Search

Increasing evidence has shown that the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted adolescents' mental health. Utilising a mixed-method design, the current study examined a total of 518 adolescent perspectives (60% female), in Scotland, on what "has" and "could" help their mental health in the context of COVID-19. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed three themes in relation to what "has" helped adolescents' mental health since the COVID-19 outbreak. These related to findings about the value of: (1) engaging in recreational activities, (2) engaging with friends, and (3) the disruption to schooling. The remaining four themes related to what could have helped adolescents mental health and wellbeing since the COVID-19 outbreak. These focussed on (1) better support: in relation to mental health; school work; and communication, (2) contact with friends, and (3) more opportunities for recreational activities. Males were more likely to report recreational activities "had" helped and less likely to report better support "could" have helped. Adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression and anxiety and those with elevated PTSD-like symptoms about COVID-19 were more likely to state more support "could" have helped, and adolescents who reached clinical threshold for depression were "less" likely to report that friends could have helped their mental health. The findings may inform mental health policy and interventions in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools often provide structure and safety to students but particularly for vulnerable children and young people. The COVID 19 pandemic has caused unprecedented upheaval across society as a whole but it is clear that the effects are uneven and that some groups have been more directly and negatively impacted, both in the UK and globally. While there are now much helpful quantitative data on the effects of COVID 19 on education, there has been little in-depth qualitative study which examines the experiences and attitudes of young people as students and specifically the effect of school closures and exam cancellations on their mental health and wellbeing. This paper discusses findings from online group interviews with a total of 45 young people and aims to understand the impact on mental health and wellbeing and what young people, themselves, suggest would help mitigate the effects of the global pandemic on their mental health and wellbeing in school.