The Covid-19 pandemic and mental health in Liverpool: What children and young people told us

Healthwatch Liverpool wanted to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people’s mental health.  They undertook a series of projects, including one on children and young people.  They visited two schools and spoke to 112 children and young people.

Like many other groups in Liverpool and across the country, young people have struggled to maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing throughout the pandemic. Many were worried about their own futures and the lives of their families and friends due to Covid-19.

One significant concern was that young people were not able to do the things they normally did to help them feel happy, connected to others, supported, and fulfilled. Some individuals were better able to access or take part in activities that they felt supported them with their mental health than others were. Some students mentioned things that were out of their control, such as money, having a family member who was vulnerable, or not having easy access to open and green spaces to socialise, which made them feel they weren’t able to support themselves in the same ways others could.

There were exceptions, however. Some young people welcomed the time alone to do things they didn’t usually have the time or space to do when attending school regularly. When discussing barriers to accessing mental health care and support, young people said there were a number of things that deterred them such as cost, waiting lists, and shame or embarrassment around accessing this kind of support.

Although some young people knew who to go to if they had concerns or were struggling with their mental health, many were unaware of professional organisations that could support them. Many young people, unless they had an ongoing and/or diagnosed mental health problem, were unsure of the different types of support that are available to them.