Young People's Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Key Findings:

• There are three main ways that young people access information on mental health: through schools or colleges, family and friends, or social platforms. However, around 1 in 10 young people do not access information on mental health.
• Around 1 in 3 young people feel comfortable talking about mental health: because they have no mental health issues; they feel it is better to speak out for their own and other people’s benefit; or because they have supportive family and / or friends.
• 1 in 4 young people feel uncomfortable talking about mental health: because they feel their mental health is personal to them; they find it uncomfortable talking about their feelings especially with people they do not know; or they are worried about how people might react (i.e. not being taken seriously and being judged).
• More than 1 in 3 young people’s mental health worsened during the lockdowns: the main reasons were not being able to see friends and family; being confined indoors or at home; and the negative impact of online learning on education. 
• Lockdowns also had positive impact on young people’s lives: 1 in 4 enjoyed having more free time to spend on hobbies and entertainment; and around 1 in 4 enjoyed spending more time with family.
• Around 1 in 2 young people said they feel they have changed in the last 12 months: 1 in 2 said they had experienced a positive change: they had become more mature, confident and / or independent. Around 1 in 4 had experienced a negative change: experiencing worsened mental health such as anxiety, stress or worry; feeling socially isolated; or feeling less happy in general.
• 2 in 3 have experienced a change in their relationships with other people: 1 in 5 have become distant from friends and / or family; 1 in 6 have become closer with family and / or friends; and 1 in 6 have experienced increase in their social interactions through social media or other forms of remote communication methods.
• 2 in 5 young people would not feel comfortable contacting services to get help and around 1 in 3 are not sure if they would feel comfortable.
• 2 in 5 have found information on how to get support with majority accessing it through school, while 1 in 3 have not found information on how to get help.
• 3 in 4 would know how to get support if needed with 1 in 3 going to someone in family or a close friend.
• 2 in 5 young people said they have had either negative or mixed experiences contacting someone for support: because they did not get the help they needed; they had difficulty accessing the support; they felt uncomfortable contacting someone; or they had experienced a negative response from those they had contacted for help.