Children likely to be hit by depression and anxiety post-lockdown
Children and young people are likely to experience high rates of depression and anxiety long after the lockdown ends, according to a review of academic research.
The research draws on more than 60 pre-existing, peerreviewed studies into topics spanning isolation, loneliness and mental health for young people aged between four and 21.
It concludes that young people who are lonely might be as much as three times more likely to develop depression in the future, and that the impact of loneliness and mental health could last for at least nine years.
Authors of the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said clinical services need to be prepared for a future spike in demand.
Dr Maria Loades, clinical psychologist from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, said: “From our analysis, it is clear there are strong associations between loneliness and depression in young people, both in the immediate and the longer term.
“We know this effect can sometimes be lagged, meaning it can take up to 10 years to really understand the scale of the mental health impact the Covid-19 crisis has created.”
She added: “There is evidence that it’s the duration of loneliness as opposed to the intensity which seems to have the biggest impact on depression rates in young people. This means that returning to some degree of normality as soon as possible is of course important.
“However, how this process is managed matters when it comes to shaping young people’s feelings and experiences about this period.
“For our youngest and their return to school from this week, we need to prioritise the importance of play in helping them to reconnect with friends and adjust following this intense period of isolation.”
Members of the review team were also involved in a recent open letter to Westminster Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.
They suggest that the easing of the lockdown should be done in a way that provides children with time and opportunity to play with peers.
Schools should be resourced and given clear guidelines on how to support children’s emotional wellbeing during the transition period as schools reopen, the experts say. They call for play – rather than academic progress – to be the priority during this time.
Their letter concludes: “Poor emotional health in children leads to long-term mental health problems, poorer educational attainment and has a considerable economic burden.”
In April, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Holyrood would commit extra funds to new mental health initiatives to help those struggling with the coronavirus lockdown. The funding came in addition to £3.8 million announced by Ms Sturgeon in March to increase the capacity of telephone and digital mental health services.