Coronavirus: ‘Reading about virus online makes me anxious’

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“I think it is a difficult time and it’s OK if you’re struggling, because everyone’s struggling.”

Brooke, 17, felt anxious reading about the coronavirus outbreak on social media, so she started a book club to stay connected.

Thousands of children are currently being home schooled amid tight restrictions on people’s movement.

Children’s commissioner Sally Holland said their mental health was as important as their physical health.

Brooke, from Ammanford, finished school before being able to complete her GCSEs and wants other youngsters to be able to talk about the challenges they face.

“I’d stayed back a year to get my grades sorted as I’d been ill for a long time so I felt quite upset when they got cancelled,” she said.

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“I think it’s a really tough time for everyone, as well as for young people suffering with mental health issues.

“I suffer from depression and anxiety and my whole life I’ve been told to get out and socialise, and now I’m being told the opposite.

“I think it is a difficult time and it’s OK if you’re struggling, because everyone’s struggling.”

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Ms Holland urged parents and carers to be aware of the struggles children may be facing from staying inside and not seeing their friends.

“As well as doing the very important job of making sure we’re all physically safe and well, we all need to look after our mental health and wellbeing as well and that includes, of course, the mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people, who may be affected by this in ways we don’t yet fully understand,” she said.

She said the important thing was those struggling must not “feel abandoned” and should reach out for support that is still there.

Mother-of-three Ceri Reed founded the group Parents Voices in Wales for people whose children have mental health issues or additional learning needs.

It has 650 members and – while many struggled with the restrictions at first – she said they have now started realising what is most important for their children.

“The initial panic maybe of home learning and the strain of it all is alleviated, and it is slowing down and we’re realising actually that the wellbeing of the families, of the parents and the children is a priority overall,” she said.

Some parents raised concerns about the long-term impact of the coronavirus, but consultant clinical psychologist at the Aneurin Bevan health board Liz Gregory believes there are simple steps to help.

Staying CALM

She said: “In just the way anxiety spreads, so does calm. So we’re trying to spread calm across homes up and down the country.

“C – create new routines and rituals, A – ask a grown up, don’t let worries stay in your head.

“L – do lovely things and laugh. You can’t be anxious and laugh at the same time. And M – make the most of this.”

She said we are at a point in history we will look back on, adding: “What will you tell future generations about how you coped with the lockdown?”