Families, friendship and community Covid-19 Impact

Transcript:Families, friendship and community Covid-19 Impact:
Families, friendship and community Covid-19 Impact Assessment August 2021 By the Research & Citizen Insight team, Chief Executive’s Office OVERVIEW This refreshed Covid-19 impact assessment provides an overview of the current impact landscape and the shared challenges across Essex organisations Produced by Essex County Council Chief Executive’s Office 01/11/2021 | 2 THEMES The impact assessment has been split into 6 separate ‘issue’ reports framed around the following: The Essex Economy Education and Skills Families, Friendships and Communities Environment and Surroundings Housing and Transport Physical and Mental Health QUESTIONS Within these themes each paper will aim to address the following: What has already been recovered? What are the ongoing impacts? What are the interdependencies between different parts of the system? What pre-existing inequalities / fragilities across Greater Essex do we now understand better, and how should this renewed understanding inform our future approach to them? METHODOLOGY This impact assessment has not been approached in a scientific manner. Instead due to the need to deliver timely insights and the wealth of information already available, the approach is centred around: Bringing together findings and insights from work already undertaken at an Essex level A review of national level insight Reflection of insights from learning events discussions with relevant boards and roundtable events (see references for contribution details) FAMILIES FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNITY SUMMARY OF IMPACTS Produced by Essex County Council Chief Executive’s Office 01/11/2021 | 3 CHILDREN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Produced by Essex County Council Chief Executive’s Office 01/11/2021 | 4 80% of young people with pre-existing mental health needs agreed that the pandemic had worsened mental health. Existing mental health needs were exacerbated and new issues emerged, including anxiety, fear and stress among young people (source: Young Mind survey, 2021). Isolation impacted social wellbeing, as children missed out on social connections with friends, other family members and trusted adults. Emotional wellbeing was also influenced by increased strain on family relationships. There are certain groups that have experienced more negative impacts due to Covid-19 than others: Children with disabilities - including health conditions and SEND Children from BAME backgrounds Children with pre-existing mental health problems Children in care and care leavers Children in the secure estate,, who were unable to see their families Children in poverty SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE POST-COVID Work with schools to ensure that wellbeing is considered and included as part of the wider recovery programmes that schools