So now it is clear that many teens will suffer damage to mental health from lockdown what is the government going to do?

[1SayT0mat0]

Because where I live CAMHs are doing sfa and have been woeful throughout.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53022369

Yes, won’t hold my breath.

[1SayT0mat0]

Aside from that can anybody advice me on what to do with a teen struggling with mental health who is stuck in their room day in and day out with nowhere to go, very little to do and no support?

Mine has now plummeted and feels there is no future. Nothing I do works.

[nether]

Is the teen in question shielded or not?

Because having been told to stay inside for 3 months, it is hard to venture ourside again - if there is a charity for the condition and does it have a helpline? It might be better securing help through the voluntary sector, especially as anxiety about going out has become manifest in the last fortnight since daily exercise permitted for the first time.

That it couid be days until the next announcement probably isn't helping. Nor is the all too frequent dismissing of the shielded as unimportant (indoors - out of sight, out of mind)

If this is not a reaction to advice to stay in, it might still be worth contacting a charity for advice. Try Mind, or YoungMinds.

[Weepinggreenwillow]

1say Sadly I imagine the governemtn will ignore this, as they have been ignoring the wellbeing of children and young poeple all along.
It is really hard on teenagers. Mine are all struggling now. Could you encourage yours to meet up with a friend/freinds? ( allowed outside with scoial distancing up to 6 people) Mine have a freinds round each inthe garden this week or gone for a long walk with a freind. This is the first time they have seen their freinds since march and seems to have given them a good boost. It is not enough I know, but has helped a tiny bit.
It is an absolute travesty the shambles the government is making of getitng children back to shcool

[pigeon999]

I wouldn't be waiting for anyone to help me, I would be making arrangements for my teens if they were really struggling, as you have described op.

Book drs app and speak to GP
Book online counselling specialising in teen therapy (do your research)
Organise small outings in the car, moving on to half days out and then full days out
Ask over some friends into the garden for mocktail making or fun activity for an hour, and increase each time.
Speak to family and friends and ask them for support and if possible invitations for dc to spend time with others
Insist on outside exercise once a day
Encourage them to get up earlier, dressed and showered. Its not okay to be holed up in bedrooms all day.
Organise a BBQ and put some music on, bring some fun back into the house. Ask them to contribute to the cooking/menu choices etc
Cooking twice a week for the family

Op get them to reconnect with you, the outside world and keep going. I am worried about my teens. It is not a great time for them at all, but we need to keep going. I don't have the answers op, but can only share with you what we are doing. I am knackered, but I not giving up. Good luck.

[Batters3aPark]

Think that is harder said than done Pigeon.

Like many we both work all day so no outings possible with ours. Drag ours out after work and very late for quick exercise. I personally have hounded CAMHs who one is under including crisis team. Still got nothing in place. Tried online stuff but what are you supposed to do, how do you physically make them do it when you’re not there? Won’t be F2F for a long time and many teens don’t want to discuss personal details on a phone should they be lucky enough to get anything anyway.

[Batters3aPark]

And as for relying on family and friends. How under lockdown?

Getting them up and dressed impossible if you’re not there.

[midgebabe]

Well for a start, going forward would you all be prepared to pay more in tax to fund mental health services ?

[SteelyPanther]

Is your teen at school ? If yes then contact your school nurse for advice on services in your area. The School Nurses are still working.

[toffeeghirl]

@pigeon not everybody has the support of professionals and family/friends. CAMHS were overstretched before the pandemic.
Family/ friends are struggling themselves.
And not everybody has a car or garden to escape to.

[Batters3aPark]

And re taxes( really helpful)We’d just be happy to hold on to our jobs.

[Batters3aPark]

What services Steely?

[LockdownLou]

My guess? Nothing. I’m a MH practitioner, and specifically work with young people in schools and colleges.
Dreading September. Honestly I have young people who have had quite significant suicide attempts and the most they can get is some “group CBT”. It isn’t the professionals who work there, it’s a lack of funding as always.

[MoreW1ne]

So this will take some criticism from some but I'll go for it anyway. Those on this/similar threads saying they can't do the things pp here and elsewhere have suggested due to work commitments etc. really need to consider taking some unpaid leave or holiday if allowed to support their children. Or considering family care or support from friends.

Yes I know many need and rely on the money but some need to think of the long term. Yes the lack of schools will have affected the mental health of some children but some of the stories on MN actually sound close to neglect at times.

I'm not saying it's easy but the longer we ignore our own children the harder it will be to reverse any damage that they might receive.

If we expect that suddenly the government or separate agencies will step in and support us or that the government will take responsibility for the mental health of our own children and that will make it all instantly better we're going to be let down.

[LockdownLou]

Sorry, forgot to advise. The best thing right now would be some antidepressants or some beta blockers short term if the anxiety is high. Can your teen see friends? If not can you drag them out for walks?

Take them to the GP or ring the crisis team and kick up a fuss!

[Allnamesaregone]

It is tough on teenagers and people who simply trot out the line “get in touch with a mental health charity” just don’t get it.

What teenagers need is to be with their friends.

It’s a time in their development when parents become less important, and peers become most important. Speaking to another adult isn’t the solution.

They need to be with friends.

[pigeon999]

batters Yes your teens can now see friends - up to six, so the lockdown you describe may in another country? But if you are here in the UK your teens can go out and see friends, and have been able to for around 10/11 days now.

Take some time off if they are struggling? Alternate your hours so someone can be at home? Take some holiday and head out for the day.

Services are not great I agree entirely.

[IgnoranceIsStrength]

Similar to many others GP first.there are some good online/phone services still working such as Kooth and Big White Wall. Also depending on your area there is Silvercloud. There are some really good journals for teens struggling with mental health. Helps them to break it down and provides them with small manageable goals daily.

[Pugsrus]

I’m not sure I agree ,
The ones near me seem very happy hanging about McDonald’s,sat in the park ,they jump the fence with the ties and notice on.
There’s always a few having cans of beer in the nature reserve near me .
They all seem very happy laughing and joking in their large groups

[Allnamesaregone]

Not in Scotland they can’t. They can see one person only when out.😡

[Batters3aPark]

I have kicked up a fuss. Finally had a call I suspect because crisis got involved. 2 weeks until the meeting to discuss him.

And as for the neglect accusations . There is the mother of all recessions coming. If we lose our jobs life will be multiplied in shitness for our dc.Aside from that I’m a key worker. If we all ditched work to support our suffering dc the country would be in a worse state than it currently is.

[Batters3aPark]

Do anti depressants have a long term impact? Not sure how I feel about drugging my dc because support is shit but getting desperate.

[MsTSwift]

What we have learned in this pandemic is when it comes down to it we on our own. The state has stepped back from children and young people - they not even being taught let alone anything else provided

[pigeon999]

ot everybody has the support of professionals and family/friends. CAMHS were overstretched before the pandemic.
Family/ friends are struggling themselves.
And not everybody has a car or garden to escape to

The point of my post was to say we can't rely on CAMHS at the moment, unless your child is seriously ill, I can imagine they are pretty overwhelmed.
Teens need to see friends, my teens have friends that are struggling they are all talking about it, that will help. Having someone that understands of the same age. It can't harm at least.
Not everybody will have a garden, but everyone has access to parks and outside space. We need to use them.

[Inforthelonghaul]

Mine goes to 6th form college a train ride away so none of his friends are local. It’s horrible and he is desperate for college to start again.

[MoreW1ne]

Even key workers need to put their own families first at times. The OP asked the question what will the government do?

I answered it: Nothing.

So the question really is...what will you do?