Mental health is a huge priority for young people. That has been true for a long time now and the coronavirus disaster is only putting more pressure on young people.

So what needs to be done to support young people through disasters and who can do it?

Many places that were safe for young people are now no longer safe or accessible.

Schools, clubs, sports which provide structure, a sense of belonging or accomplishment are disrupted.

Supportive relationships outside of the home are difficult to access.

Planning, management and recovery of disasters usually focus on adults and it's no less true for coronavirus.

The UK government has considered exams and vulnerable children but this underwhelming in scope and implementation.

Other discussion about changes to young peoples lives has focused on the effects of these to adults.

How to replace the provision of childcare? How do parents fulfil the role of teacher? How to keep working whilst looking after children?

This disruption has long term effects on young people. So let's flip this - how do we put young people and their experiences of disasters in our focus?

How do we maintain or replace the supporting factors in youth development? What are the actions specific to disasters?

1. We need to see young people as participants in disasters. They can contribute to disaster preparation, management and recovery, and they have diverse experiences.

2. We need to create opportunities for young people to express themselves and create the changes they identify.

Youth organisations are uniquely placed to do this because our networks have a presence in nearly every community and between us can reach a diverse group of young people.

3. Young people need to know their rights, in particular the right to an opinion and to have it taken seriously.

Knowledge of their rights helps young people feel they have "permission to speak". Their opinions on how disasters are managed become valid.

Youth organisations have remarkable opportunity to help young people know and understand their rights.

More than this, we can help them put it into practice. There are numerous campaign success stories

4. Exchange experiences and memories.

This is important to build individual and community resilience and empathy between them. People need a space to share what they have been through. It helps manage and recover from disasters and create a resolve to prepare for the next one.

We can create those times and spaces between young people to share their many and diverse experiences between themselves.

We do that day in and day out about many other things. Now we need to do it with technology, purpose and in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

5. Communicate risk honestly with young people. They can grapple with risk and finding solutions.

Young people are dealing with a disaster many didn't realise was a risk in the first place and worse - no one is taking the time to tell them what the plan is to get out of it.

A call for politicians, emergency planners, policy makers to make time to engage with young people and provide appropriate communications.

There are existing spaces to understand risks and prepare for disasters with young people. You need their knowledge so to support them.

6. Challenging adult-centric disaster planning and management requires the full orchestra of youth organisations: formal and non-formal, and responding organisations - national and local government, emergency services to ensure the needs of young people are considered.

Right now, youth organisations can focus on maintaining as much of their activity as possible. Providing a sense of continuity in the face of disruption. Providing a sense of belonging and community. Maintaining those supportive relationships with peers and adults.

I'm proud that @UKScouting and other youth organisations are doing so much to continue supporting young people through this.

There are many examples of young people taking issues into their own hands a demonstrating leadership and practical solutions to challenges.

Afterwards, we need to consider the next disasters and how young people can shape what we do to prepare.

What do we do when the next community is hit by flooding, by climate change impacts?

Planners and policy makers must ensure young people are supported and not forgotten.