MORE than three quarters of Scotland’s young people are concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their mental health, according to a new survey.
Research carried out by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), in collaboration with YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot, also found that almost 40 per cent of the 2,421 respondents to the Lockdown Lowdown questionnaire are moderately or extremely concerned about their mental wellbeing.
The results of the report highlight the extreme pressure young people are under, with other major concerns centering around school, college and university closures, exams and coursework and future employment prospects.
Rosie Sumsion, MSYP for Helensburgh and Lomond, gathered feedback from young people in her area for the survey.
READ MORE: Life in lockdown 'is hitting Helensburgh's young people hard', says area's MSYP
Rosie said: “I talked to a phenomenal girl who has just started her job at a care home and she’s got immuno-compromised people at home, so she’s not able to be close to her family.
“She’s working in a care home which has had cases of Covid-19 and she was saying how difficult it has been experiencing that much death at a young age.
“She said there is support available – it’s just a matter of phoning and it’s there – but I was blown away by the amount that she’s doing and the fact that she’s getting up every day and going to work. I can’t imagine having to deal with all of that.
“When we talk about our nurses and our doctors we imagine people who are a bit older and who’ve been around it a bit longer, but she won’t be the only person who has applied for a job and suddenly been thrown into the middle of this turmoil.”
Jack Dudgeon, SYP chair, said: “Young people need reassurance that their life opportunities are not at risk.
“Before the pandemic, we already knew that young people were battling a mental health epidemic, with rates of depression and anxiety sky-rocketing.
“The findings from Lockdown Lowdown reveal that 40 per cent are moderately to extremely concerned about their own mental wellbeing.
“With their democratic mandate, members of the SYP will work with decision-makers for the benefit of young people’s futures in the context of Covid-19.”
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