LUCKILY, most teenagers have escaped the physical effects of Covid-19 or suffered only minor symptoms. But amidst a back-and-forth over in-person and virtual teaching, as well as the disruption on their social lives, the true toll on mental health is still unknown.

Steve Dewar is the team leader for Youth for Christ in Wiltshire, and hopes that the fears of young people do not go unnoticed.

Usually his main focus is the rural pockets of Wiltshire that may be forgotten by larger organisations, and he works to promote youth clubs and community projects to help young people come together and avoid a life of crime.

He has been working with schools across the county throughout the pandemic to talk through anxieties and worries among young people.

Now he has called on the wider community to show they care in helping to prevent a rise in mental health cases.

Just this week, the Lancet medical journal published their findings into a study on the effect of the pandemic on mental health.

More than a quarter of children (aged 5–16) and young people (17–22) reported disrupted sleep and one in ten (5.4% of children and 13.8% of young people) often or always felt lonely. Both problems were more common in those with probable mental health problems, of whom 18% felt fearful of leaving the house because of Covid-19.

Steve saus its vitalt, amid exam stress and a rollercoaster between home and in-person teaching, that young people in Wiltshire know they are cared for.

He said: “There’s been a whole host of challenges for young people over the last year. And for the most part, they’e adapted very well. I’m currently still able to work with schools in weekly meetings and it’s so vital that these conversations carry on.

“Some pupils’ home lives are just horrendous, whether it be abuse or neglect, there are young people dealing with some very real problems. With more time at home during lockdown, this is exacerbated. Last year been challenging for young people

“At the beginning of the pandemic we tried to work with pupils on keeping up their social interaction with their peers, for example at skate parks.

“While virtual help is brilliant, it can never replace face-to-face community support.

“There have been cuts to youth services over the years, and that does mean there’s a big void now, when kids really need our support.

“We want to help young people through this and make sure no-one falls through the cracks. It’s incredibly important that the youth of today know the community cares for them.”