Child Mental Health in the wake of
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 4:52 am
Profile picture of Naomi MiallNaomi Miall, one of our Data Impact Fellows, discusses her research looking at child mental health in the wake of COVID-19.
Charities are reporting that unprecedented numbers of children are experiencing mental health crises in England. The COVID-19 pandemic is often attributed as a contributing factor. The pandemic turned children’s lives upside down, closing schools and childcare centres, disrupting children’s routines and interrupting relationships with nigeria rcs data friends and family. Our study showed that a trend towards declining mental health among children continued during the pandemic. Unexpectedly, we also found that several inequalities in child mental health narrowed.
Why was the study carried out?
At the start of the national UK lockdowns, many experts predicted that the pandemic would have unequal effects on child mental health. We already knew that wide inequalities existed. Children growing up in poverty were estimated to be three times as likely to experience mental health problems by the time they are adolescents. Teachers and child health experts warned that children living in crowded or poor-quality housing, who had less access to books and toys at home, whose families were experiencing financial stress and food insecurity, would fare particularly badly during the pandemic.
Charities are reporting that unprecedented numbers of children are experiencing mental health crises in England. The COVID-19 pandemic is often attributed as a contributing factor. The pandemic turned children’s lives upside down, closing schools and childcare centres, disrupting children’s routines and interrupting relationships with nigeria rcs data friends and family. Our study showed that a trend towards declining mental health among children continued during the pandemic. Unexpectedly, we also found that several inequalities in child mental health narrowed.
Why was the study carried out?
At the start of the national UK lockdowns, many experts predicted that the pandemic would have unequal effects on child mental health. We already knew that wide inequalities existed. Children growing up in poverty were estimated to be three times as likely to experience mental health problems by the time they are adolescents. Teachers and child health experts warned that children living in crowded or poor-quality housing, who had less access to books and toys at home, whose families were experiencing financial stress and food insecurity, would fare particularly badly during the pandemic.