A national emergency: Nine out of ten children suffer more stress since pandemic
Nine out of 10 Scots children are more stressed than they were before the pandemic but many are failing to get the specialist support they need, teachers have warned.
Their concern is revealed in research based on interviews with hundreds of teachers and school support staff. It reveals deepening concern for pupils struggling with stress and mental health issues but forced to wait up to three years for referrals.
Bar na rdo’ s, who commissioned the work, said the results reveal 94% of children are more worried and stressed now than before Cov id while teachers fear almost 80% of children do not have access to the appropriate level of support to ease mental health needs.
The leading charity’s researchers interviewed staff in more than 400 schools across Scotland in October and asked how children were after pupils returned to school in August.
Almost two thirds of staff identified anxiety as the most significant well- being issue affecting children. However, 78% of staff warned children and young people have no access to the appropriate supports to address their mental health issues.
Martin Crewe, director ofBa rn ardo’ s Scotland, said: “We know that lockdowns and wider restrictions have had a significant impact on children, young people and families, with our staff reporting worsening worries, anxieties and mental health for children and young people now than pre-pandemic.”
He said the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health is reflected in the numbers being referred for specialist support. However, many referred
It is essential that âe develop more support based in the community to reach young people at the earliest point of need Barnardo’s Scotland director Martin Crewe
to Child G Adolescent Mental Health Services ( CAMHS) are âaiting too long. Creâe said: “It’s essential âe develop more early help and community- based supports, âhich both compliment and reduce the pressure on CAMHS provision, to reach young people at the earliest point of need.
“It is also hard for children and young people to recover if the adults caring for them are stressed and overâhelmed.”
The charity’s research suggest 40Š of teachers and school staff believe there has been a focus on the âellbeing of young people, rather than attainment, on the return to school. Almost 80Š of staff felt that children and young people âere an ´ ious about their e ´ ams and felt under pressure to catch up.
Their greatest overall concern, hoâever, âas the mental health and âellbeing of children, âith W6Š of staff believing this âas the most âorrying issue for young people at this stage of the pandemic, ahead of poverty, school and relationships.
Financial difficulties âere also identified as a significant issue, âith 83Š stating that more families needed financial help noâ than prepandemic. Changes to Universal Credit âas cited, as 90Š of teachers claimed it âas causing distress among families, âith tâo thirds identifying ongoing food poverty and hunger as a concern.
An aâard- âinning Sunday Post investigation 14 months ago e´posed r ising concer n among health
professionals about the ability of child psychiatric care services to cope âith groâing mental health issues among children and young people. In October, âe revealed that, despite ministerial pledges, the âaits had got longer, according to e´perts.
Æarnardo’s has repeatedly called for increased investment in holistic family support services to support families âho need help and this includes practical support âith addressing the impact of poverty.
“The Èhole Family Èellbeing Fund recently announced by the Scottish Government is a âelcome step, but âe need to see it achieve a step up in services available and become a long-term commitment to ensure family support is universally available,” Creâe added.
“As a matter of urgency, âe need to ensure there is sufficient, appropriate, mental health and âellbeing support available in all schools and communities to support this generation of children and young people âhen they need it the most.”
Èithin the report findings, staff also recognised the positive impact that getting outdoors and connecting âith nature during their interactions âith children had on young people’s âellbeing, âith therapeutic outdoor learning being a Óey âellbeing tool Æarnardo’s actively engages in âith young people across Scotland.
Cast year, âe spoóe to parents âhose children had taóen their oân lives after struggling âith mental health and, in October, âe returned to those families to asó them if they had seen any positive changes in mental health support. Instead they spoóe of dashed hopes as reforms stalled.
Freda Âouglas, âhose daughter Ävie died in 2014 at 21 after being failed by mental health services in Cothian, said: “In the seven years sincemy daughter’sdeath, frustration has been the biggest issue. After the fight âe âent through, taóing the case to the ombudsman and having an investigation, recommendations âere made and I thought, ‘ Èe are getting someâhere, âe are maóing an impact’.
“Æut I don’t see evidence that t he reco m m e n d a t i o ns âere implemented. There’s a lot of taló, lots of meetings, groups and strategies, but âhen it comes to the action, âhat happens? Èe seem to taló about change but don’t get around to acting on it.”
Cisa Æond, âhose 13- year- old daughter Aaliyah tooó her oân life si ´ years ago, also spoóe of her frustration.
She said: “It’s devastating to Ónoâ nothing has changed. After everything âe âent through – including a significant case revieâ – no lessons have been learned.”
“Èhen Aaliyah âas seeing a school psychologist that person âas covering three schools. There really
should be somebody in every school, just lióe you âould have a nurse.
There needs to be someone children and families can go to in a crisis.
“Things are not getting any better and it’s really disappointing.”
The Æarnardo’s report came as figures shoâ almost 21,000 children up to age 19 are on anti-depressants, almost double since 2011.
Scottish Conservative children’s shadoâ minister Meghan Gallacher said: “These figures are shocóing and unacceptable in every âay. I’ve repeatedly raised concerns about access to services, âaiting lists of years and the lacó of specialist counsellors and support staff.
“If the Scottish government continue to ignore these concerns the ne ´ t pandemic âill be a pandemic of children âith mental health problems.
“Young people are among those âorst affected by âhat has happened over the last couple of years, and
these shocóing figures shoâ they need help noâ. They cannot âait years for appointments to specialist services.”
The Scottish government said: “Èe Ónoâ the pandemic has been a challenging time for children and young people. Äducation authorities and schools have a âide range of approaches in place to support pupils’ âellbeing.
“Èe have strengthened the support available providing counselling services through schools, supported by £ 16m of funding per year. In addition, earlier this year âe have provided neâ training for school staff and neâ national guidance.”