Children in the midlands and north east have been most impacted Demand for Child Mental Health training increases by over 500%
Since coronavirus restrictions first came in to force in March 2020, over half of all children (51 per cent) in the UK aged 4 – 16 have expressed concerns about either their own wellbeing or that of a peer, according to research* released today.
Almost a quarter of parents (24 per cent) stated that the mental health of their children has noticeably declined this year. According to the research, those going through their GCSE studies (15 – 16 years), as well as those aged 4 – 7 years old have suffered the most, with 26 per cent of parents with children in those age groups stating they had seen their mental health visibly deteriorate.
The troubling findings, released by High Speed Training, come at a time when more stringent lockdown measures have been put in place once again, with schools remaining open but restrictions to social and leisure activities imposed.
The midlands and north east, both of which experienced prolonged time in Tier Three compared to the rest of England, were the areas where mental health amongst children declined the most, with 40 per cent of parents in both regions expressing concern that their children’s mental wellbeing had diminished.
High Speed Training’s research, which involved polling 1,000 parents nationwide, also found that mental health is now the biggest safeguarding concern among parents (43.2 per cent), followed by online safety (43 per cent), the attainment gap (41 per cent), cyber bullying (35 per cent) and finally their physical health (30 per cent).
Catherine Talbot, Education Sector Analyst and Course Lead at High Speed Training, said: “It is extremely concerning to see just how big an impact the UK’s lockdown measures are having on children’s mental health. Ofsted’s recent report looking into the damage caused by the pandemic further backs up the unfortunate findings, as it reveals that since returning to school, education leaders have noticed a decline in pupils’ concentration and mental and physical stamina.
“During the first lockdown, we saw a 510% increase in Brits taking Child Mental Health training compared to the same period in 2019, and since the government’s latest announcement on the second round of national restrictions, there’s been a 124% spike since in courses being taken.
“The knowledge gap in the complex subject of mental health is staggering and education professionals need to work together to ensure extra caution is taken in order to protect the wellbeing of those currently at school so that children aren’t left with lasting impacts as a result of these exceptionally challenging times.”
To support those seeking additional training and information on safeguarding child mental health, High Speed Training has a range of free to view resources available online at https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/designated-safeguarding-lead-resources/
