High Life North asks what effect a long term lockdown could be having on us, and on our children.

By Jo Dunbar

Whether it’s been a local lockdown, tier 3 restrictions or a nationwide lockdown, since March this year people in this region have been living under a question mark with limited freedom and much less social interaction than we are used to. While living like this may now feel normal to many of us, there’s no doubt that learning to exist in this way for almost a year has affected us all mentally.

Coupled with worry over our children, our finances, older relatives and our own health, it’s no surprise that more of us have been reporting mental health issues. We spoke to chartered clinical psychologist Abigael San who agrees that long-term restrictions have prompted her clinics to fill up with more patients asking for her expertise. ‘In my clinics, I’m seeing so many issues that are unrelated to the virus itself, but as a result of its effects.’

For young children to have words such as ‘bubble’, ‘hand sanitiser’ and ‘coronavirus’ in their vocabulary, it’s both heart-breaking and a reflection of how much their worlds have been altered since national lockdown began in March. Much has been reported on how resilient children have proved themselves to be, but it stands to reason that many months of restrictions and social distancing will have implications.

According to Abigael, there is greater evidence that kids are feeling anxious. ‘More children are presenting with anxiety as a result of what is happening, whether that’s a child at school contracting COVID-19 or worrying about the pandemic. If a child is ordinarily socially anxious, then lockdown presents a lack of challenge, not being going able to go out and try different coping methods. This means they aren’t progressing – coronavirus is putting a halt to that, like it’s put a halt to everything.’