Read on Twitter
1/ Thread. The impact of lockdown(s) on children/adolescents.
2/ https://reachwell.org/
‘.. a group of UK academics who work with children and adolescents. … concerned about the lack of focus on the needs of this age group … in policy making during the pandemic. We provide scientific evidence that might help to redress this imbalance.’
‘.. a group of UK academics who work with children and adolescents. … concerned about the lack of focus on the needs of this age group … in policy making during the pandemic. We provide scientific evidence that might help to redress this imbalance.’
3/. @DrHelenDodd wrote about the importance of f2f play: ‘Without the opportunity to play closely with peers, children can feel lonely and socially isolated, which is linked to short- and long-term mental health problems.' https://reachwell.org/2020/07/06/professor-helen-dodd-the-importance-of-play-for-childrens-social-and-emotional-wellbeing/
4/. @utafrith wrote on the impact of children missing school: https://reachwell.org/2020/07/06/prof-uta-frith-what-can-science-say-about-the-consequences-for-society-of-children-missing-out-on-schooling-for-6-months/
She concluded: ‘The consequences of a large gap in schooling are waiting to be documented and these effects will occupy social services and mental health specialists for many years to come.'
She concluded: ‘The consequences of a large gap in schooling are waiting to be documented and these effects will occupy social services and mental health specialists for many years to come.'
5/. @sjblakemore Highlighted the impact on teenagers. ‘Research … has demonstrated the crucial importance of social interaction and social learning in adolescence, which is a sensitive period of social brain development.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/07/08/prof-sarah-jayne-blakemore-the-impact-of-the-pandemic-lockdown-and-school-closures-on-adolescent-social-development/
6/. @Cathy_Creswell Essi Viding, Eamon McCrory & Ian Goodyer wrote about lockdown & mental health
https://reachwell.org/2020/07/09/covid-19-lockdown-a-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-crisis/
Concluding: Ensure safeguarding, bereavement, and mental health needs are promptly identified and evidence-based provision is made available ...'
https://reachwell.org/2020/07/09/covid-19-lockdown-a-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-crisis/
Concluding: Ensure safeguarding, bereavement, and mental health needs are promptly identified and evidence-based provision is made available ...'
7/ @neilhumphreyUoM @darren_a_moore highlighted impact of lockdowns on education and learning https://reachwell.org/2020/07/13/covid-19-lockdown-the-impact-on-education/
8/ . @Tamsin_J_Ford highlighted the need for mental health services to adapt in these times
‘... support the mental health of those known to be vulnerable and to maximise capacity to meet increased need over the next few years.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/07/16/prof-tamsin-ford-challenges-for-childrens-services-as-lockdown-eases/
‘... support the mental health of those known to be vulnerable and to maximise capacity to meet increased need over the next few years.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/07/16/prof-tamsin-ford-challenges-for-childrens-services-as-lockdown-eases/
9/ Guest writer @MariaLoades wrote a powerful piece about the impact of lockdown on loneliness
‘Loneliness is associated with later depression and anxiety, up to 9 years later.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/07/22/dr-maria-loades-lockdown-loneliness-in-children-and-young-people-may-continue-to-impact-on-mental-health-for-years-to-come/
‘Loneliness is associated with later depression and anxiety, up to 9 years later.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/07/22/dr-maria-loades-lockdown-loneliness-in-children-and-young-people-may-continue-to-impact-on-mental-health-for-years-to-come/
10/ I wrote about the impact of lockdown on self-harm https://reachwell.org/2020/07/29/prof-ellen-townsend-the-impact-of-lockdown-on-self-harm-in-young-people/
Importantly I noted ‘Suicide is the leading cause of death in England in 5-19 year olds and many more young people will die from suicide and road traffic accidents than Covid-19 this year’
Importantly I noted ‘Suicide is the leading cause of death in England in 5-19 year olds and many more young people will die from suicide and road traffic accidents than Covid-19 this year’
11/ @sunilbhop @DJDevakumar wrote about the urgent need to choose a different path in public health responses to avoid further damage to young people.
‘… we can choose to put the needs and rights of children first – we can choose a different path.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/09/07/sunil-bhopal-and-delan-devakumar-damage-of-the-lockdown-for-children-and-young-people-lets-choose-a-different-path/
‘… we can choose to put the needs and rights of children first – we can choose a different path.’ https://reachwell.org/2020/09/07/sunil-bhopal-and-delan-devakumar-damage-of-the-lockdown-for-children-and-young-people-lets-choose-a-different-path/
12/ Matthew Owens wrote a powerful call to action in his guest briefing.
https://reachwell.org/2020/09/10/dr-matthew-owens-undoing-the-untold-harms-of-covid-19-on-young-people-a-call-to-action/
https://reachwell.org/2020/09/10/dr-matthew-owens-undoing-the-untold-harms-of-covid-19-on-young-people-a-call-to-action/
13/ @ProfAnnJohn wrote about suicide prevention
https://reachwell.org/2020/10/06/prof-ann-john-prevention-of-suicide-in-young-people-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-beyond/
‘Self-harm has been rising in recent years, alongside anxiety & depression. A real worry is that the pandemic & the measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 will exacerbate & entrench these trends.’
https://reachwell.org/2020/10/06/prof-ann-john-prevention-of-suicide-in-young-people-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-beyond/
‘Self-harm has been rising in recent years, alongside anxiety & depression. A real worry is that the pandemic & the measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 will exacerbate & entrench these trends.’
14/ @ProfAnnJohn also wrote about a public health approach to suicide prevention in the crisis:
https://reachwell.org/2020/10/13/ann-john-a-public-health-approach-to-suicide-prevention-in-young-people-during-the-pandemic/
https://reachwell.org/2020/10/13/ann-john-a-public-health-approach-to-suicide-prevention-in-young-people-during-the-pandemic/
15/ Not sure who needs to hear this today but I wanted to highlight that some academics and clinicians have been speaking out about the negative impacts of lockdown for months.
16/ We have had a good response from mental health policy colleagues at @DHSCgovuk but their levers are limited. If you know a policy maker who is looking for evidence please point them to our website: https://reachwell.org/latest-releases-blog/
17/ Like @MichaelYeadon3 I’m wondering what else I can do. We have provided evidence. We have spoken repeatedly in the media. Yet the government focus is on covid at the expense of all else. This is not a world that I want my kids to grow up in
18/ We will continue to post briefings – get in touch if you are a child/adolescent expert who would like to contribute. Ends.
