Young people’s mental health must be added to the scope of the Covid inquiry, the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and leading charities have warned.
It comes after the Telegraph revealed on Monday that children are not directly mentioned in the Covid inquiry’s draft terms of reference.
This newspaper has been campaigning to put children at the forefront of the country’s recovery from Covid lockdowns.
The terms of reference for the inquiry, which are being consulted on until early April, include one bullet point referencing the “restrictions on attendance at places of education”, but make no specific reference to mental health.
Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The pandemic has had an enormous impact on the mental health of children and young people. While many children will bounce back from this experience, some children will experience longer-term mental health problems.”
He added: “Any inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic must ensure it investigates effects on children and young people’s mental health, making sure their voices are heard as part of the process.”
‘A lost pandemic generation’
Mind, the mental health charity, echoed the call and said young people have had to “bear the brunt of this difficult time”.
Vicki Nash, Head of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs at Mind, said disruption to education, finances, and employment have left a “bleak outlook for their future”.
“The upcoming Covid-19 public inquiry must amend its terms of reference to make sure we look at the impact on the nation’s mental health and wellbeing and particularly on our young people,” she said.
Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director of Research & Influencing at Samaritans, said the charity’s volunteers report mental health as the “most common concern” among young people they speak to.
“The Government must make sure that young people get the support they need in difficult times or we risk a lost pandemic generation,” she added.
The comments come after Anne Longfield, chairman of the Commission on Young Lives and former Children’s Commissioner for England, accused the Covid Inquiry of “shocking oversight” after children were not directly mentioned in its aims.
Public engagement and consultation of the inquiry will last around a month, while Baroness Hallett, inquiry chair, will determine the final details of its approach.
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