'Distressing impact' of pandemic continues

Youth workers on duty in Hampshire's emergency departments over Christmas reported a big rise in young people being admitted with mental health issues.

No Limits, which runs the service in A&E, says it shows the 'distressing impact' the pandemic continues to have.

The Southampton-based charity also revealed children as young as 10 are feeling anxious and depressed.

It comes off the back of a survey by University College London which suggested anxiety symptoms among Britons rose sharply over the Christmas period - despite there being no lockdown.

Although there were fewer restrictions compared with the previous festive season, research found that depressive symptoms were on a par with levels during lockdown at the start of 2021.

The Covid-19 Social Study, which involved 31,151 participants, also found that the increase in depression and anxiety symptoms was most prominent in younger adults.

There was also a sharp decline in life satisfaction and happiness over the Christmas period, which was noted across all age groups.

To find out more about the support available from No Limits, and how you can access help, click here.

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