How does it feel for me during Covid 19? Week commencing 6 July

During the last two weeks in June, Healthwatch Leeds launched a survey asking parents and carers to share their perspective on how the pandemic has affected their children aged 0 to 18.

The report looks at children and young people's (CYP) health and well-being under lockdown as described by their parents or carers- more than half CYP felt that their life has got worse since lockdown began. The biggest impact has been not being able to go to school. This has caused increased anxieties, disrupted sleep and feeling demotivated. However, for a significant minority, lockdown has been a welcome change from life’s usual pressures- home schooling has given them the opportunity to learn in helpful new ways and spend extra time with family. Many children with special educational needs and disability and other conditions have found lockdown hard, but they are also very anxious about returning to normal while the virus is still a threat. The older the children are, the more likely they are to be struggling emotionally with lockdown.

Additionally, relatives of people living in care homes felt that their loved one’s wellbeing was worse than before lockdown, primarily because they have missed out on the emotional support they usually get from their family. Residents with dementia found it particularly hard to changes in routine following lockdown.

The report outlines the challenges to the city of Leeds and is designed to support decision makers during this time.