Recent research has unveiled a stark decline in the mental wellbeing of secondary school pupils in the United Kingdom during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study, conducted by experts at the University of Oxford’s psychiatry department, highlights a significant increase in depression rates, social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties among these students.
According to the comparative study, depression cases among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 13 surged by 8.5% during the pandemic, contrasting with a mere 0.3% increase among the same cohort before the pandemic.
Furthermore, the research underscored a notable gender disparity in the pandemic’s impact on mental health, with girls experiencing a more pronounced decline than boys. Girls were also more likely to encounter challenges when transitioning back to full-time in-person schooling.
The study identified key factors that contributed to students’ resilience during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of social interaction and support. Students with access to a supportive school environment, positive home relationships, and a friend for support during lockdowns exhibited greater adaptability. Even partial school attendance during lockdown periods positioned students better to adjust to full-time schooling upon return.
Willem Kuyken, the lead researcher and professor of mindfulness and psychological science at Oxford’s department of psychiatry, emphasized the need for policies that promote a sense of connectedness at home, encourage friendship, and foster a positive school climate to enhance young people’s mental health and adaptation. He also urged against full school closures to safeguard young people’s adjustment.
Kuyken highlighted the necessity for further research to comprehensively understand the risk factors and protective elements affecting young people’s mental health under challenging circumstances.
The study also disclosed that during the pandemic, cases of significant social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties increased by 7.9% among teenagers, compared to a 3.5% increase before the pandemic. Additionally, general poor mental health escalated by 12.8%, compared to a 4.5% increase before the pandemic.
This research is groundbreaking as it provides a comparative analysis pinpointing the mental health impact of successive lockdowns, shedding light on the associated risk factors. The study involved over 6,300 pupils who were assessed during the pandemic, with data collection concluding in spring 2021. It also included 864 students assessed before the pandemic, with final data collected in autumn 2019.
Funded by Wellcome, the project was a collaborative effort involving the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University of Exeter, King’s College London, and University College London.
