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.

I would consider ADs, at least in the short term. They really do help many people.

Haven’t found Kooth that great but haven’t tried the text thing. Will get it up again. There is one called Living Life to the Full which looked good and he is half way through a coarse.

To be honest I find online stuff isn’t that great as it’s very easy for them not to do it when v low. When in a room with a human they can’t escape. Human contact is what is missing.

Would just like to put it out there that any parenting going through this deserves a medal imvho. You need the patience of a saint.

could have damaging long-term consequences ..

Human contact is what is missing

What’s his relationship like with his siblings?

Both fine but all v diff. One he is closest to is doing school lessons all day, other on Xbox which he has no interest in. He is 16 so was in year 11, the no mans land year.

The government will do nothing. This whole thing has been about stopping too many adults getting ill and children and young people are just collateral damage.

It's quite difficult to make teenagers go out if they don't want to.

There must be a mix:

Kids with preexisiting mental health illness who are struggling with a combination of reduced or altered therapy/waiting list/impact of covid

Kids who are down about it, feeling negative, worried about school etc but aren't mentally ill. Just emotional health and mental wellbeing

The second group probably can be helped with some walks, baking, social activities.

The first, not so much.

What’s he doing next year?

A levels presuming they start up in Sep. Really hope things go back to normal in Sep. Can’t face more hours of him at home alone.

Some teens are incredibly resistant, mine included. Won’t go out, has only one friend, has shrunk into shell of bedroom and playstation (luckily not in bedroom). Even bribes don’t work and turning wifi off just makes for massive rows and refusal to do school work. I’m at a complete loss.

Noeuf the situation we have is DS14 who was too much into his gaming, but in the last few months pre-lockdown had turned a bit of a corner and was going to the gym - mostly to hang out with his pals, playing football at the weekends - ditto and starting to go to the cinema and burger places with his pals.

Now all that has been stripped away from him. He's actually ok but is gaming way too much. We do ensure he does his schoolwork and takes some exercise, but other than that his friends are on the game as well so that's how he gets to speak to them.

So he's not depressed, but it's not a healthy situation. We're going to check out the Duke of Edinburgh which he has signed up to as I think he can start on some of the skill stuff even in lockdown so hopefully that will be some sort of non-computer based focus for the summer.

I’ve let it go with the gaming son as he is talking to friends. He also does a bit of work first and we try to push it back until 2 but after that he’s on it for hours. Way too much but he’s talking to friends and laughing. A world away from the other one of whom frankly now I’d celebrate if he took up gaming. It’s the lack of motivation though with both of them that worries me. One with his mental health, the other re his outdoor life which he used to love. Could get out on his bike but doesn’t. Does the family walk, was doing a 10 min run but we’ve said he needs to go out with us as outdoors for longer iykwim. He isn’t his normal self but I’m less worried.

Loads more of these threads popping up now. My 12 yo son is struggling to the point he was threatening suicide last week.

School and GP simply signposted to website with resources.

He hasn't got many friends, started secondary in Sept not knowing anyone, has fallen out with friends online. Won't contact children he knows, point blank refused at apparently its 'awkward'. He's lost all confidence.

Before this he was a happy kid. There's simply nothing for him. All his hobbies have been cancelled.

Of course I've tried things but ultimately he needs his busy life back and children his own age.

Rookiemere see I would put him in the second category and not underestimate how difficult it is and the potential for him to become worse. I think for me people just go straight to either doing well or mentally ill and there's a range where some low level support can help. There isn't much to do though at the moment in terms of getting back to normal. My son lost his job, cadets and gym the same and it's horrible to see how he had just started to become more adult and away from the grumpy teen and now is plunged back to it.

I don't think people whose children don't have mh problems will ever understand.

That's rude. Given you have no idea of anyone's back story. We've been through two CMHS referrals due to serious crisis, one time was so bad it was actually causing hospitalization level physical symptoms . In both cases we reached sufficient improvement that CAMHS were considered unnecessary by the time the referrals come through.

Why is going out essential for mental health? We're shielding. We haven't left the house since i forget when. Exercise is enough for the endorphins. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.

Every day you are still here if you don't want to be is sucess and to be celebrated. Every day you do half hours exercise when you dont want to is sucess. Every day you do schoolwork when youre struggling to concerntrate is sucess. Every day you catch up yesterday schoolwork cos it wasn't happening yesterday is sucess.

Who cares if you go out? Who cares if you talk to your friends? Who cares if when youve done what you need to do you game? These are pleasures in life, if you dont find them pleasurable right now why do them or measure your mental health by them?

Strip back the demands and realise just how much you have achieved. Being alive is an achievement.

I don't understand your point hazelnut. You do have experience of mh problems, so you do understand. I'm not arguing or criticizing you.

Just re text support:

www.giveusashout.org/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53037702

Not all friends live local. Parks are out when raining. Some families are shielding. Public transport is a no go. Parents are working 12 hour days to avoid being fired or dealing with other children and no support. Kids need structure and interaction.

CAMHS were useless before Covid-19. Why on earth should anyone think they are going to be less useless after Covid-19 when resources are going to be even more stretched. If you want to help your child you are going to have to do it yourself because nobody else will do so.

I went to a city I don't normally go to yesterday, and in the park some children had broken through the barrier to the play area. They were on one of those basket swings and were having the best time ever. I said to DH "Good for them!" It's a long time since I've seen children having such fun. I fully supported lock down (I think it came too late) but I'm not going to go and spend my money in shops while children children in deprived areas are deprived of playing and learning.

From
The BBC website: Leading psychologists have written an open letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, saying the delay in getting children and adolescents back to school is a "national disaster" and is putting their mental health at risk. The experts warn of "lifelong consequences for them and society", and ask Mr Williamson to let children and young people play together and return to school as soon as possible.

I am so angry about this. Non essential shops and golf clubs before school and play 😮 sick sick sick

@SteelyPanther

She was refusing school for up to a few days a week prior to lockdown. A boy rejected her and I think it’s a combination of that, hormones/teen stuff, possible anxiety.

The doctors didn’t do much - I just got told that there wasn’t much they could do at this point (lockdown had just kicked in), and she could try counselling.

I did meet with a teacher before lockdown too & they gave her a pass to leave lessons early etc as she had said the crowds were making her uncomfortable.

There has been no mention of a Pupil Referral Unit. Or a school nurse.

She has also been binge eating so has put on weight, which is obviously not helping - she has awful body image issues (I’m frustrated by this as I’ve bought her up to not focus on this, I don’t diet or talk about these things).

Do school refer her to the Pupil Referral Unit?

She’s a lovely girl in many ways - well behaved at school, top sets, mature.....no trouble at all with some of the more worrying teen behaviours. I just don’t know how to get her to engage and I’m very worried about her failing her GCSEs - obviously, as well as how to get her mental health back on track...

PRU is a long way down the line for your daughter, sorry. But dont get your hopes up, everything else will be tried first as she is only at the beginning of any 'issues' - there will need to be a period of attempting other solutions first, reviews, changes etc. Be ready to be on it. Keep a detailed diary of everything.

@OneInEight

I totally agree CAHMS are hopeless. It's really concerning that more young people need help right now because help is non existent. We really do need to do it ourselves.