Vulnerable children locked up in flats, deep recession, mental health eroded a future generation screwed

[Borkins]

I hope it flattens that curve. I hope it saves lives. Because huge sacrifices are being made.

If children are recognised as vulnerable they are allowed to go to a childcare setting or school.

Don’t be so dramatic.

I don't think it's dramatic. For many children school is their only structure and safety from a chaotic life. Add whole families being cooped up together, alcoholics and drug addict parents unable to get a fix easily, jobs lost, increased financial pressures. There will be a lot of kids who are not currently on the radar as vulnerable children but could well be when the situation changes.

Is it dramatic to care about children in lockdown who's only respite from an awful home life is school?
Why should they be sacrificed or considered less than an 86 year old CV sufferer needing a ventilator?

Some people who live in flats aren't vulnerable or abused or poor!

I hear you, OP.

And if that 86yo is their granny you bet they'd stay in their flat for a few weeks if it meant she got better.

It's not that much different to the summer holidays. School doesn't make life easier for most of those children anyway (I say that as an adult who was one of those children).

The OP didn't suggest that everyone in a flat was vulnerable.

Agree op, there should be balance.

I agree op, this is going to have horrible consequences for many people, not just children, I bet domestic violence and suicide will dramatically increase as well.

I don't know what the solution/alternative is though.

If I was 86, I'd say don't you dare put me on a ventilator. If I get it, it's my time. I'd rather the children had a future.

I agree. Unintended consequences will be huge and incremental deaths will not be counted as corona related

@LittleLittleLittle one of my children is classed as vulnerable and he’s not allowed in school (not that I’d put him there anyway!) so maybe rethink that statement?

With regards to the flat, yes I agree. Three kids cooped up in one small flat is having a drastic effect on their mental health, and mine. But our lives are not the only important ones and protecting lives is more important than protecting mental health - and I say that as someone who’s entire support system for their mental health has been stripped away and is now struggling to cope because of it.

I work with vulnerable teenagers. Most are not coming into school (although we are open). We are contacting them and their families frequently, daily for the most vulnerable. We are worried about them and what they are doing while they are not in school.

Vunerable children are allowed to go to school but there may not be space for them in a school.

I'm sick of black and white posts saying 'all you're being asked to do is sit on your sofa'
Not so for many. For many it's a loss of livelihood and security and their own health.

Just because they have been identified as vulnerable doesnt mean that they will actually go to school, parents can decide not to send them in.

If I was 86, I'd say don't you dare put me on a ventilator. If I get it, it's my time. I'd rather the children had a future

How old are you @Borkins?

It's very easy to say that if you're in your thirties or forties. When it comes down to it almost everyone is not ready to go yet.

Schools aren't closed so that 86yos can be saved. They're closed so that the number requiring treatment doesn't surpass the amount of equipment and number of HCP we have.

Agree here too OP. There will be many, many hidden victims of all this - the long term fallout will be massive. There have been suicides already, and we’re only on day 2.

I get you, OP.

Some people on MN have absolutely no idea.

@TempsPerdu we aren't on day two. Well I suppose you are if you haven't been paying attention to how the virus spreads.

I totally get your point, it’s a shit sandwich sadly

Some people on MN have absolutely no idea.

I do. My childhood was abusive. My marriage was abusive. I shudder at the thought of being self isolated with him and am so relieved to be rid of him.

Still don't know what else can be done though. What should be happening OP?

@Babyroobs

Absolutely this 👌

OP I can understand where you’re coming from. I go from feeling completely overwhelmed and that it’s so unbelievably serious and that’s why all the precautions are in place and it’s absolutely going to kill us all if we don’t stop it - to thinking its really the elderly and those with underlying health conditions that are going to be affected.

Yes there’s the odd few younger ones that have sadly died but it’s very much the exception although very tragic. If this was the outcome for most then absolutely we need to do everything we’re doing but closing down every business, ruining the economy, probably creating many mental health problems not least associated with finance or lack of.

I then ask myself is it actually worth it for the greater good? It’s a shit situation but for the vast majority it’ll be mild. Why are people with cancer denied certain innovative treatments because it’s too costly? Or those with other diseases declined as certain medications as it’s too expensive to the NHS.

Then I go back to being terrified and thinking it’s not an over reaction.