Covid has given everyone a real bashing. For teenagers, one upside is that we now talk more about mental health, but at the same time our teens have been stuck in their rooms on digital devices. The number using social media for four hours or more has increased dramatically. Seeing people who aren't in lockdown having fun or looking glamorous just at the time when they want to be branching out is very difficult for teens.
A recent analysis for the BBC says there’s been a 77% rise in severe mental health cases in under 18’s and that head teachers are also reporting a huge rise in less severe mental health issues.
In a recent survey of over 200 of Place2Be’s frontline mental health professionals the common themes that young people have been raising are
· Loneliness & isolation (55%)
· Academic worries (48%)
· Juggling schoolwork (45%)
· Loss of rituals like end of year activities or exams (43%)
· Family relationship difficulties (42%)
A very touching, emotional BBC documentary that helps to see the world through the eyes of school kids and teachers:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0g8c10s/helping-our-teens-series-1-episode-1
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Tips – www.place2be
· Remind your child about everything they want to achieve and encourage them to look ahead.
· Remind them of how valued they are.
· Acknowledge how hard it has been not seeing their loved ones and friends. Help them find ways to do that.
· Respond calmly and in a resilient way and your child will take their cue from you.
· Encourage them to try new things in something they enjoy.
· Check in with your teen. It's really important to find time to connect with them AND to encourage them to talk about their feelings.
SLEEP AND TEENAGERS:
Tips – The Sleep Foundation: get them to review their sleep patterns:
· Budgeting eight hours of sleep into your daily schedule and keeping that same schedule on both weekdays and weekends.
· Creating a consistent pre-bed routine to help with relaxation and falling asleep fast.
· Avoiding caffeine and energy drinks, especially in the afternoon and evening.
· Putting away electronic devices for at least a half-hour before bed and keeping them on silent mode to avoid checking them during the night.
· Check the mattress and pillow are good for the teenager.
· Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.
SOURCES:
Julie Hubbard, professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Delaware
World Economic Forum
Students now risk losing $17 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value, or about 14% of today’s global GDP, because of COVID-19-related school closures and economic shocks.
COVID-19 pandemic: Is teenagers’ health in crisis? An investigation into the effects of COVID-19 on self-reported mental and physical health of teenagers in secondary education by Jester and Kan.
Masked education? The benefits and burdens of wearing face masks in schools during the current Corona pandemic by Manfred Spitzer
www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep
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