Discussions for Children’s Mental Health week have never been more important than this year. As we enter 2021, we leave behind us a truly unpredictable year, only with months of uncertainty ahead – it’s no wonder the conversation around young people’s mental health is a top priority.
The mental health of this generation’s children has never been more critical, or more precarious. But what about children in the care system? Often overlooked in the wider discussion on young people’s mental health, the pandemic has brought heightened struggles. Many looked after children are suffering from the trauma of constant change, uncertainty, fear and distrust in normal times, only to be intensified by the disruption and worries for the future brought about by the pandemic.
We’ve seen a dramatic increase in mental health issues in direct correlation with the severity of lockdowns – most notably, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide attempts. Although by no means an exhaustive list, we’ve identified key influencing factors of the pandemic affecting mental health crises in care homes:
Lack of routine: for vulnerable children, those who are looked after or are working with social workers, the upheaval of routine will have a hugely adverse effect on their mental health. Research throughout the last decade has proven that a stable routine is key for mental wellbeing and school performance. For vulnerable and looked after children, they do not have the luxury of a steady home life to fall back on when their school, extracurricular and social routines were shattered. These are young people who are already dealing with trauma from abuse, neglect, abandonment – this upheaval in the few routines they could rely on has caused a massive increase in anxiety and self-harm.
Academic struggles: all vulnerable children have been offered the opportunity to continue classes in schools; some decision makers will have taken this up whilst others learnt virtually. No matter which method of schooling, something which has been noted by so many of the young people we work with is this feeling of utter apathy. College work, once a hugely motivated task fuelled by hope for a better future, is laid to the side. Children with a wonderful passion for art now no longer wish to draw. Without these motivators, children in care are falling into a dangerous spiral of depression: with no mental energy to complete work, they then do not have the satisfaction of a job well done to boost their serotonin levels.
Social media: without a doubt, by far one of the biggest triggers for eating disorders, closely tied to self-harm and suicidal thoughts and attempts, is this sense of a lack of control and the increased time spent on social media. When children in care cannot socialise with their friends, cannot enjoy their usual past times, they will seek connection and stimulation through their screens. When life is now being lived online, cared for and vulnerable children are bombarded with visions of ‘better lives’ and ultra-slim bodies promoted as the ideal. Comparison is not only the thief of joy, but this replacement of real-world interactions with visions of apparent physical perfection has led to a huge increase in eating disorders in care homes.
It is clear that the pandemic has had a hugely adverse effect on vulnerable young people and children in care’s mental health; even more so than children from stable family homes whose mental health is also suffering despite having a steady routine from a close-knit familial support network, and who are not dealing with this pandemic on top of a dealing with trauma from past neglect and abuse.
Mentoring is a crucial solution to fight the mental health crisis in care homes, no matter its form. Even when mentoring support is provided virtually, it provides this vital tonic of consistency in a safe and confidential space. Virtual mentoring need not be any less creative than in-person – the use of virtual whiteboards can be used, or art supplies sent ahead of the session for self-expressive exploration.
These sudden new challenges to children in care’s mental health means action to repair the damage must be targeted. The specific outcomes of the pandemic which are affecting the mental health of these already vulnerable young people must be identified to be tackled and, most importantly, funding must be increased for mentoring services – which provide vulnerable children with vital support and coping mechanisms - if we are to ensure they are given a chance to flourish out of this pandemic.
Emily Aklan is founder and CEO of Serenity Welfare, providing safe and comfortable transportation and welfare services to vulnerable children and young people in care throughout the UK; who this year will be launching the ‘Hope Instead of Handcuffs’ campaign to ban the use of handcuffs on children during transportation.
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