COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. 

It is important to recognise that not all of the mental health consequences of COVID-19 will be enduring or traumatic, and many people will find the resources and resilience they need to make sense of this crisis.

Those children and adults who have previously experienced trauma in their lives are at a heightened risk of being re-traumatised at this time. This is especially the case for those people who continue to live in traumatising environments (such as abusive or neglectful households or relationships), and those who have experienced a traumatic loss at this time.

If you are concerned about a child or young person, you can read more about the impact of trauma here.

You can also search for support in your area here.

The members of CTRN UK can provide you or your organisation with insight into the potentially traumatic features of COVID-19, and advise you how to ensure your response is trauma-informed and human-focused.

Papers of interest:

Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic - The Lancet Psychiatry

The Resilience Task Force

Join the resilience campaign - to ensure children and young people can recover from the trauma that took place in lockdown