Berkshire charity warns about young people's long-term mental health

A Berkshire mental health charity says young people will need ongoing support as life returns to normal after the worst of the pandemic subsides.

'No5 young people' offers confidential listening to support children and young people and those around them, through a free counselling service for those aged 11-25 living, working or studying in Reading and the RG postcode area.

The charity ceased its face-to-face sessions a week before the national lockdown in March 2020 and moved all its counselling online. Additionally it set up a telephone support service for existing clients and made that open to all young people after the Forbury Gardens terrorist attack in June.

No5 says there's been a 123% increase in referrals in the past seven months compared to the same period the year before.

The type of concerns have changed during the pandemic, at the time of the first lockdown it was more about young people with pre-existing conditions such as anxiety and OCD finding life tougher, then as people returned to school and college the referrals became about academic anxiety and worries about 'taking covid home'. Now the charity it's all about the longterm implications of covid and what their future looks like.

Carly Newman is the charity's operations and relationship manager:

"Young people are worried about careers and education and what life is going to look like. Young people I've spoken to who would say they were very 'hugging type people' beforehand are really scared about being able to hug each other again, so a big disconnect between people and a high amount of anxiety about how to re-engage with other people"

With outdoor hospitality returning on Monday in the latest phase of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown Carly says some young people may struggle with the pressure of re-integrating:

"I think there's a huge amount of fear and concern relating to Covid about safety and venues and events and activities being safe so I think there's this odd adrenalin build up of things returning to normal but actually a huge amount of fear"

She adds that she's worried that mental health services like No:5 will struggle to keep pace with demand from young people in need of help in the future and the inevitable delays that will occur as a result:

"(My biggest concern is) because they're having to wait the things they're struggling with will be worse by the time they come to getting support, and I think longer term we'll see the affects of this pandemic on young people for a longtime, we'll be experiencing the impact but there won't be the funding so young people will continue to suffer quietly"

You can find out more about the charity here: https://no5.org.uk/

• mental health
• Young people
• Reading