scholarly journals How did the mental health of children and adolescents change during early lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Waite ◽  
Samantha Pearcey ◽  
Adrienne Shum ◽  
Jasmine Raw ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Time Points ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruption to the lives of children and young people. Understanding the psychological effects on children and young people, in the context of known risk factors, is crucial to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. This study set out to explore how mental health symptoms in children and adolescents changed over a month of full lockdown in the UK in response to the pandemic.MethodsUK-based parents and carers (n = 2,673) of school-aged children and young people aged between 4 and 16 years completed an online survey about their child’s mental health at two time points between March and May 2020, during early lockdown. The survey examined changes in emotional symptoms, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention.ResultsThe findings highlighted particular deteriorations in mental health symptoms among pre-adolescent children, which translated to a 10% increase in those meeting possible/probable caseness criteria for emotional symptoms, a 20% increase in hyperactivity/inattention, and a 35% increase in conduct problems. In contrast, changes among adolescents were smaller (4% and 8% increase for hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems respectively) with a small reduction in emotional symptoms (reflecting a 3% reduction in caseness). Overall, there were few differences in change in symptoms or caseness over time according to demographic characteristics, but children and young people in low income households and those with special educational needs and/or neurodevelopmental disorders, exhibited elevated symptoms (and caseness) at both time points. ConclusionsThe findings highlight important areas of concern in terms of the potential impact of lockdown on children and young people’s adjustment. Developing an understanding of who has been most severely affected by the pandemic, and in what ways, is crucial in order to target effective support where it is most needed.

scholarly journals Pandemic and student mental health: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of mental health symptoms amongst university students and young adults after the first cycle of lockdown in the UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Tang ◽  
Katharine McEnery ◽  
Laura Chandler ◽  
Carla Toro ◽  
Lukasz Walasek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young People ◽  
University Students ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundEarly COVID-19 research suggests a detrimental impact of the initial lockdown on youngpeople’s mental health, but it is unclear whether the impact would persist.AimsWe investigated mental health symptoms amongst university students after the firstlockdown in the UK and changes in symptoms over 6 months. We examined risk factors forthese symptoms and whether they were shared by young people not in higher education.Method895 university students and 547 young people not in higher education completed an onlinesurvey at T1 (July-September 2020). A subset of 203 university students also completeda 6-month follow-up survey at T2 (January-March 2021). Mental health symptomsmeasured were anxiety, depression, insomnia, substance misuse, and suicide risk.ResultsAt T1, nearly 40% of the participants reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety anddepression and risk of substance misuse; a quarter reported insomnia and clinicallysignificant suicidal risk. A reduction in anxiety, depression and insomnia was observed inparticipants reassessed at T2, but not in substance misuse and suicidality.Cross-sectionally, greater symptoms across measures were consistently associated withgender (female or other), sleep irregularity, and a worse-off financial status. Longitudinally,the most consistent risk factors for T2 symptoms were having previously diagnosed mentalhealth problems and having difficulty sleeping since the first lockdown.ConclusionsMental health symptoms were prevalent in a large proportion of young people after the firstlockdown. Risk factors identified may help characterise high-risk groups for enhancedsupport and inform interventions in both university and non-university settings.

scholarly journals Mental Health Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 in Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Sicouri ◽  
Sonja March ◽  
Liz Pellicano ◽  
Alex De Young ◽  
Caroline Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: COVID-19 has led to disruptions to the lives of Australian families through social distancing, school closures, a temporary move to home-based online learning, and effective lockdown. Understanding the effects on youth mental health is crucial to inform policies to support communities as they face the pandemic and future crises. This paper sought to report on mental health symptoms in Australian children and adolescents during the initial stages of the pandemic (May to November 2020) and to examine its association with child/family characteristics and exposure to the broad COVID-19 environment. Methods: An online longitudinal survey was completed by 1,324 parents and carers of Australian children aged 4 to 17 years. Parents/carers reported on their child’s mental health using five measures, including emotional symptoms, conduct disorder problems, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Child/family characteristics and COVID-related variables were measured. Results: Overall, 30.5%, 26.3% and 9.5% of our sample scored in the high to very high range for emotional problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention, respectively. Similarly, 20.2% and 20.4% of our sample scored in the clinical range for anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms respectively. A child’s pre-existing mental health diagnosis, neurodevelopmental condition and chronic illness significantly predicted parent-reported youth mental health symptoms. Parental mental health symptoms, having a close contact with COVID-19 and applying for government financial assistance during COVID-19 were also significant predictors of youth mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings show that Australian youth experienced considerable levels of mental health symptoms during the initial phase of COVID-19, and highlight the need for targeted, effective support for affected youth and particularly for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities

scholarly journals Mental Health Symptoms in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 in Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Sicouri ◽  
Sonja March ◽  
Liz Pellicano ◽  
Alex De Young ◽  
Caroline Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: COVID-19 has led to disruptions to the lives of Australian families through social distancing, school closures, a temporary move to home-based online learning, and effective lockdown. Understanding the effects on youth mental health is crucial to inform policies to support communities as they face the pandemic and future crises. This paper sought to report on mental health symptoms in Australian children and adolescents during the initial stages of the pandemic (May to November 2020) and to examine its association with child/family characteristics and exposure to the broad COVID-19 environment. Methods: An online longitudinal survey was completed by 1,324 parents and carers of Australian children aged 4 to 17 years. Parents/carers reported on their child’s mental health using five measures, including emotional symptoms, conduct disorder problems, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms. Child/family characteristics and COVID-related variables were measured. Results: Overall, 30.5%, 26.3% and 9.5% of our sample scored in the high to very high range for emotional problems, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention, respectively. Similarly, 20.2% and 20.4% of our sample scored in the clinical range for anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms respectively. A child’s pre-existing mental health diagnosis, neurodevelopmental condition and chronic illness significantly predicted parent-reported youth mental health symptoms. Parental mental health symptoms, having a close contact with COVID-19 and applying for government financial assistance during COVID-19 were also significant predictors of youth mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings show that Australian youth experienced considerable levels of mental health symptoms during the initial phase of COVID-19, and highlight the need for targeted, effective support for affected youth and particularly for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities.

scholarly journals How did the mental health symptoms of children and adolescents change over early lockdown during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the UK?

JCPP Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Waite ◽  
Samantha Pearcey ◽  
Adrienne Shum ◽  
Jasmine A. L. Raw ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
The Uk

scholarly journals Unexpected deaths of children and young people in the UK

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Stallard ◽  
Michelle Maguire ◽  
Justin Daddow ◽  
Rosie Shepperd ◽  
Mike Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Child Death ◽  
National Data ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
National Health Service Trust ◽  
Incident Reports ◽  
The Uk

Aims and methodTo review the deaths of children and young people who took their own life. We conducted a retrospective analysis of serious incident reports from a National Health Service trust and reviews by the child death overview panels of the local safeguarding children boards.ResultsWe identified 23 deaths, with annual rates varying considerably between local authorities and over time. Over half of the children (n = 13, 56%) were not known to specialist child and adolescent mental health services, with 11 having no contact with any agency at the time of their death. Hanging was the most common method (n = 20, 87%) and of these, half (n =11, 55%) were low-level hangings.Clinical implicationsTraining is required to improve awareness, recognition and the assessment of children at risk of taking their own life. Specialist child mental health services should directly assess plans or attempts at hanging and offer advice about the seriousness of attempting this. National data (by age) on children and young people who take their own life should be routinely published to inform clinical and preventive services.

scholarly journals Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: inspiring innovation or more of the same?

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Timimi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems ◽  
Uk Government ◽  
The Uk

SummaryIn 2007 the UK Government announced a substantial expansion of funding for psychological therapies for those presenting with common mental health problems. This ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) project was widely welcomed, however, evidence backed, economic, and conceptual critiques were voiced from the start and the project remains controversial. In 2011, the UK government announced it was extending the IAPT project to encompass services for children and young people with the aim of ‘transforming’ the way mental health services are delivered to them. Here I critically reflect on the problems associated first with IAPT and then with CYP-IAPT and ponder whether CYP-IAPT is significantly different to the problematic adult IAPT project or more of the same.

scholarly journals Risks and Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms During COVID-19 Home Confinement in Italian Children and Adolescents: The #Understandingkids Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Oliva ◽  
Giusy Russo ◽  
Renata Gili ◽  
Luigi Russo ◽  
Antonio Di Mauro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
Home Schooling ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms

Objective: To identify risk and protective factors for mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes caused by home confinement in pediatric subjects and in children and adolescents with a neuropsychiatric disorder.Study design: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from May 10 to May 31, 2020. Two online anonymous surveys were developed: population-based and clinical-based (children with neuropsychiatric disorders). Outcomes included emotional and behavioral symptoms, as assessed by psychometric scales (BPSC, PPSC, PSC, CES-DC and SCARED, respectively), and lifestyle changes during home confinement (i.e., physical activity, screen time, home schooling, reading).Results: The sample included 9,688 pediatric subjects, and 289 children and adolescents with a neuropsychiatric disorder. The presence of siblings was a protective factor in all ages. In pre- and school children: male sex, a diagnosis of autism, residency in highly affected areas, high parental educational level or job loss, and screen time (>2 h/day) were risk factors. Physical activity, home-schooling, reading, talking with other people were protective factors. Residency in highly affected areas, a diagnosis of mood disorder, parental job loss, and screen time, were associated with a worsening of the depressive symptoms, whereas physical activity, talking with other people, playing with parents were protective activities. Screen time was also a risk factor for anxiety symptoms, while physical activity, reading and talking with other people were protective factors.Conclusions: This study identified risk and protective factors for mental health symptoms associated with lifestyle changes caused by COVID-19 home confinement to promote mental well-being in pediatrics during pandemic times.

scholarly journals Examining changes in parent-reported child and adolescent mental health throughout the UK’s first COVID-19 national lockdown.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Raw ◽  
Polly Waite ◽  
Samantha Pearcey ◽  
Cathy Creswell ◽  
Adrienne Shum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Mixture Modelling ◽  
Growth Mixture ◽  
Health Trajectories ◽  
Growth Mixture Modelling ◽  
Over Time

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the lives of children and adolescents, forcing them into periods of prolonged social isolation and time away from school. Understanding the psychological consequences of the UK’s lockdown for children and adolescents, the associated risk factors, and how trajectories may vary for children and adolescents in different circumstances is essential so that the most vulnerable children and adolescents can be identified and appropriate support can be implemented. Methods Parents and carers (n = 2988) in the U.K. with children and adolescents aged between 4 and 16 years completed an online survey about their child’s mental health. Growth curve analysis was used to examine the changes in conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and emotional symptoms between the end of March/beginning of April and July using data from four monthly assessments. Additionally, growth mixture modelling identified mental health trajectories for conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and emotional symptoms separately and subsequent regression models were used to estimate predictors of mental health trajectory membership. Results Overall levels of hyperactivity and conduct problems increased over time whereas emotional symptoms remained relatively stable, though declined somewhat between June and July. Change over time varied according to child age, the presence of siblings, and with Special Educational Needs (SEN)/ Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ND). Subsequent growth mixture modelling identified three, four and five trajectories for hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problems and emotional symptoms, respectively. Though many children maintained “stable3low” symptoms, others experienced elevated symptoms by July. These children were more likely to have a parent/carer with higher levels of psychological distress, to have SEN/ND, or to be younger in age. Conclusions The findings support previous literature and highlight that certain risk factors were associated with poorer mental health trajectories for children and adolescents during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Child Health Clinical Outcome Review Programme: The Mental Healthcare of Young People and Young Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Wood ◽  
Sarah Rees ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Amanda Marchant ◽  
Ashley Akbari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionThe diagnosis, management and services available for mental disorders are of growing concern and controversy in the UK. Transitional care between child and adult services and the interface between primary and secondary/ specialist services is often disjointed and thresholds for referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are high. Objectives and ApproachRoutinely collected healthcare datasets and data linkage were used to identify patterns of healthcare utilisation by young people and young adults with mental health disorders across the four UK Nations. We explored the extent to which routinely collected datasets can contribute to an assessment of the health needs and the quality of care that children and young people with mental health disorders receive. Data was requested from the national data providers in each country. A series of descriptive analyses were performed and methods were developed for cross- national comparisons to be made (e.g. Four Nation Person Spell). ResultsIt is feasible to explore healthcare utilisation across the four countries of the UK using routine data. However the recording, availability and access varied considerably between countries, making meaningful comparisons challenging. Descriptive analyses showed strong deprivation gradients in the diagnoses and care provided for young people and young adults with mental health disorders. Depression and anxiety were the most commonly recorded mental health conditions in primary care. In secondary care drug/alcohol disorders and self-harm were the most commonly recorded. Re-admissions to emergency departments were higher for those admitted for self-harm or psychiatric conditions. Conclusion/ImplicationsRoutine data has the potential to make a difference to care. However collection and access needs to be standardised in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness in improving the care for children and young people with mental health disorders. MQ has funded an Adolescent Data Platform to facilitate this.

scholarly journals Increase of internalized mental health symptoms among adolescents during the last three decades

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 925-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Blomqvist ◽  
Eva Henje Blom ◽  
Bruno Hägglöf ◽  
Anne Hammarström
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Previous studies suggest an overall increase of adolescent mental health symptoms globally since the 1980s until today, especially an increase of internalizing symptoms in girls. Due to methodological limitations of these studies, further studies are warranted to obtain a more solid knowledgebase. Methods This study was cross-sectional and compared two separate but geographically identical groups of adolescents in a middle-sized industrial municipality in Northern Sweden at two time-points [(i) 1981, n = 1083, (505 girls, 577 boys), response rate 99.7%; (ii) 2014, n = 682, (338 girls, 344 boys), response rate 98.3%]. All students in their last year of compulsory school were included. The same self-report questionnaire, consisting of four sub-scales (functional somatic-, anxiety-, depressive symptoms and conduct problems), was used at both occasions. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, two-way ANOVA and general linear model. Results Symptoms of anxiety and depression and functional somatic symptoms, increased among both boys and girls from 1981 until 2014 (P < 0.001 for all subscales), and the increase of these symptoms was higher in girls. Conduct problems were significantly higher in boys in 1981 and decreased over time so that in 2014 there was no longer a significant difference between boys and girls regarding conduct problems (P = 0.286). Conclusion In this population-based study spanning over 30 years, both girls and boys showed increasing internalizing problems, while conduct problems decreased. To halt this trend, we need a deeper understanding of the impact of the major societal changes that have occurred during the last three decades.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document