Let the next ‘new normal’ be one in which children come first

School closures, disruption to routine, and living in homes with financial and relationship struggles have all had an adverse impact on the mental health of young people, writes Michael Samuel

‘The resources simply aren’t there to match the support they need’ (Getty/iStock)

Our children are faced with great uncertainty about returning to school this week – and the dread of another lockdown. The rules are changing all the time; secondary school pupils have now been told to wear masks in the classroom.

Inconsistency can be unsettling, and barely a week goes by without another survey showing the worrying state of the mental health of our youngsters. This is an extremely perturbing situation, which many of us in the profession witness at first hand.

I am the chair of the Anna Freud Centre, which has provided training and support for child mental health services since 1952. And, while they have generally escaped the worst physical effects of Covid up until now, I can tell you personally that many young people have faced a very difficult combination of depression, anxiety and grief over the past two years.

School closures, disruption to routine, living in homes with financial and relationship struggles – these have all had an adverse impact on the mental health of young people. There are also other factors at play: children who experienced food poverty were more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety than their peers.

Of course, it’s not a universal picture. One study reported that across all ages, 25-41 per cent of 8- to 18-year-olds said they felt happier during lockdown – but what is clear is that demand for mental health support among young people has been increasing throughout the pandemic.

It is estimated that, while one in nine children and young people had a probable mental health disorder in England in 2017, this has now risen to more like one in six. The resources simply aren’t there to match the support they need.

The NHS is under greater strain than ever because of Covid. A recent Health Select Committee report highlighted that more than half with a diagnosable condition pre-pandemic do not receive the mental health support they need.

Charities like mine are doing what we can, but we are acutely aware that existing provision is not reaching many young people. That has promoted talk of a “lost generation”, who struggle with education and employment issues, and who often suffer from poor mental health.

In addressing the challenging landscape, there are three crucial points to keep in mind, which should inform our response. First, early action is crucial. Research shows that 50 per cent of mental health problems are established by the age of 14, and 75 per cent by the age of 24. Some may even be shaped before birth, during the mother’s pregnancy.

The price of inaction on children’s mental health is storing up problems for later life. If we act early, not only can we help someone achieve a better quality of life, but it makes economic sense, too, saving the government sizeable sums in future treatment.

Secondly, as demand increases, digital platforms and treatments are becoming more important. There is a huge growth in apps and other digital resources in the wellbeing and mental health sector. Of course, some treatments can only be carried out face to face, but the potential for digital services to be rolled out at scale is enormous.

Finally, it’s really important to differentiate between diagnosable mental illness and other ailments. Lucy Foulkes, a psychology lecturer at UCL, writes persuasively in her book Losing Our Minds: What Mental Illness Really Is – and What It Isn’t that “we need to gain confidence in talking about mental health and illness not as a neat dichotomy but a messy, nuanced spectrum”.

To keep up to speed with all the latest opinions and comment sign up to our free weekly Voices Dispatches newsletter by clicking here

“We all like simple categories and answers, but the sooner we recognise that mental health doesn’t play this game, the better,” she continues. “Remember those vast grey plains. The individuals who roam this space will still need care and support, and professional help might indeed be warranted – but the language of disorder might not be.”

As we wave goodbye to one turbulent year and welcome the next, we all hope that the adverse effects of Covid will be reduced and that we can enter a “new, new normal” – but let this new, new normal be one of tackling children’s mental health.

By addressing the problems of today, we can build a better tomorrow for our young people.

Michael Samuel MBE is the chair of the Anna Freud Centre