Our youth-led FRED campaign is fully aware of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown is having on young people’s mental health. These issues include: depression and anxiety about unknown futures, cancelled exams, being taken out of employment, stress and fear seeing close friends and family getting ill, and loneliness due to their isolation, as well as other bad health outcomes, including eating disorders.

Some of our service users have indicated really worrying levels of bad mental health that might lead to self-harming or a long term illness. While most require support in the form of advice, others are asking for Personal Protection Equipment or just food that they are not able to purchase due to lack of income or support from their family. A small minority are homeless, or are dealing with drug or other addiction issues.

We also know that the NHS and public services are currently overburdened and there are few resources to provide young people with specialist mental health support or immediate relief and food. 

Moreover, the economic affects of the social distancing policy impacts disproportionately on young people as they are overly represented in low income sectors which are worse affected, such as hospitality.

Well … you are not alone!