Report reveals young people felt less anxious and more connected to school in lockdown

[FlySheMust]

Some children's mental health improved during the lockdown according to one report. I hope they will be supported in going back to school.

bristol.ac.uk/news/2020/august/young-people-mental-health.html

Interestingly, despite the headlines it actually said that 2% of boys had a decrease and 3% of girls had an increase. So it was beneficial but only if you were male....

Actually, those figures were ‘at risk of depression’ so apologies, I read a different write up

No, I think that that figure was for "depression." Both sexes had a drop for anxiety."

The idea that everyone’s anxiety is improved
without exception that the government is trying to peddle couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone is different and yet they’ve made no attempt to acknowledge this.

About half my form said they preferring remote learning. I was really surprised. It’s definitely food for thought.

Yes, several children in mine told me they felt much happier and also more confident in lots of subjects because they'd had more tailored feedback. Of course, we could only give such detailed feedback because not all the kids were attempting the work.

Mine said they’d felt less worried about their peers’ judgement, and they liked not having the journey to school (some live quite a way away).

Ds2 was certainly less anxious during lockdown. In fact it was like he was a different child - head up, smiling, engaging. However ds1 really struggled - barely left his room, did not engage, anger outbursts.

BUT we ds2 has recently been diagnosed with dyspraxia and being assessed for ADHD and had spent the last few years in constant trouble at school and ds1 is autistic and loves the routine and structure of school. So their reactions are hardly surprising!

I have an 11 year old who suffers from anxiety and he is like a different child. I'm dreading transition to secondary in 2 weeks...that's an understatement. School triggers his anxiety like nothing else

My kids usually enjoy school but they definitely preferred being at home and doing remote learning. I think the same was true of many adults working from home.

@Danglingmod

Yes, several children in mine told me they felt much happier and also more confident in lots of subjects because they'd had more tailored feedback. Of course, we could only give such detailed feedback because not all the kids were attempting the work.

So really this is an argument for smaller class sizes, which we have always known are of benefit, rather than distance learning

My two teens are happier at school. They thrive at school.

Five hours on a screen in isolation each day has not been good for their mental health.

One size does not fit all. Some flourish at school, others do not. Depends on child.Also, depends on the school, teacher, home life,. Some schools engaged more in lockdown, others did not.

So many factors.

@middleager

My two teens are happier at school. They thrive at school.

Five hours on a screen in isolation each day has not been good for their mental health.

One size does not fit all. Some flourish at school, others do not. Depends on child.Also, depends on the school, teacher, home life,. Some schools engaged more in lockdown, others did not.

So many factors.

Mine are both year 9 (going into y10) so the same age as the group in the research.

Clearly one size doesn’t fit all but our education generally only allows for the one size fits all approach-unless you de register and home school. Time to consider a mix of remote learning and in person learning-we have pupils living in the 21st century being taught the same way as they were in the 20th century

My teenager's anxiety went UP when their college course was stopped (yr 10). They've thrived there and can't wait to get back. We looked around a number of schools, colleges and sixth forms and their ethos is spot on.
I'd like to see some nuance and attempting to understand what it is about the school environment that they could change for more children to feel comfortable and supported, rather than it be an either/or situation between school and online learning.

Well my non-social introvert teenager has loved it and my people-loving extrovert teenager has hated it, go figure.

My 13 year old, has enjoyed remote learning, and in particular working at his own pace. However, I think going back to school is good for his long term mental health.

I can see how lockdown might benefit some people. My 16 YO was fine at first, but after three months she is really struggling without the social aspect. As a kid I found school very stressful (I have had anxiety from childhood) and would have thrived off home learning.

There really should be a viable alternative for kids who just can't thrive in the school environment. I've always felt our education system let's down so many kids because they're not extroverted enough.

@Danglingmod

Yes, several children in mine told me they felt much happier and also more confident in lots of subjects because they'd had more tailored feedback. Of course, we could only give such detailed feedback because not all the kids were attempting the work.

And yet, the way teachers have been demonised on Mumsnet, you'd think no one had received any feedback at all because teachers were sat on their arses drinking gin in the garden.

Salty - I was engaged in live marking an essay with one pupil at about 10pm one night in particular - comments and improvements were going backwards and forwards and I eventually messaged back "go to bed now"!

No surprise that generally anxiety has reduced, mine does when I am not at work.
My children's social anxiety has increased during lockdown. They need to go back to school, not just for education but to engage with their peers and learn how to cope with pressures that will then assist them in future.

I think it's important to note that that study was conducted in May - at which point children had realistically had, at most, half a term at home. It may well be different now.

Of course, school is anxiety inducing for some; my DD is one. And this comment makes sense too -

" Those with the lowest levels of well-being pre-pandemic benefited most, with their scores increasing by 14 per cent compared to no increase in those with average to above average well-being.".

Essentially - those most anxious about school felt the best when it closed. Not really news.

The bigger issue is what can we practically do to alleviate anxieties going forward?

Some children and teenagers did really struggle with anxiety and this needs to be kept in mind for any future lockdowns. My son was lucky because he was able to return to school and so had some semblance of normality but others weren't so lucky and there has been severe distress and unsafe behaviour in lots of homes. The fact that it took legal action to ensure reasonable adjustments were made for some vulnerable children and adults shows that the needs some of the most vulnerable weren't considered.

An education mental health professional at my local authority a month back said that many of those with acute mental health issues were faring a lot better outside school, and that school is highly stressful for many children.

That accords with my and my friends’ children’s experience. One of my children has definitely been happier, the other misses the social interaction more but equally doesn’t have the social angst!

Remembering back to my days at school, peer pressure, low level bullying and misbehaviour didn’t make for a stress-free environment! How many of us would swap our jobs for our time back at school?

I know this is older children but my 9 year old son left school on 20 March and has had no contact from his school or teachers since to suggest he could feel “more connected with school” is laughable they actually don’t even know if he is still alive!

If that is replicated to any extent in the secondary sector then I think the picture would end up being quite mixed.