Emerging Minds |

Covid-19 Conference

Conference: Youth Mental Health & COVID-19

What do we know and what should we do?

In March 2021 we co-hosted a free online conference on Youth Mental Health and COVID-19 alongside the Centre for Society & Mental Health, King’s College Policy Institute, and the Mental Elf.

Individuals representing policy, academia, civil society and schools, as well as young people, including those with lived experience of mental health issues, and parents and carers, were invited to participate in the discussion.

Across three days of events we explored:

  • Evidence base (1) Overall trends: How has children & young people’s mental health changed due to COVID-19?
  • Evidence base (2) Disadvantaged, Marginalised and Vulnerable groups: How has the mental health of children & young people living in different circumstances changed due to COVID-19?
  • Impacts in short, medium and long term: How will the wider societal consequences of COVID-19 affect children and young people’s mental health?
Below you can find:
  • recordings and resources from each of the days
  • a daily reflection written by one of the panellists
  • details of the policy briefing created as a result.

Day 1 - Overall trends: How has children & young people’s mental health changed due to COVID-19?

Full session recording and slides from Day 1 of the conference

Day 2 - Disadvantaged, Marginalised and Vulnerable groups: How has the mental health of children & young people living in different circumstances changed due to COVID-19?

Full session recording, slides and resources from Day 2 of the conference

Day 3 - Impacts in short, medium and long term: How will the wider societal consequences of COVID-19 affect children and young people’s mental health?

Full session recording, slides and resources from Day 3 of the conference

Day 1 Reflections

Panellist Lucy Power reflects on the first day of the conference

Day 2 Reflections

Panellist and Young People’s Advisory Group member Anna highlights key messages from the conference

Day 3 Reflections

Panellist Cassandra Lovelock highlights key messages from the third day

Policy Briefing: Youth Mental Health and COVID-19: How can we build back fairer?

This policy briefing was jointly produced by the Centre for Society and Mental Health, Emerging Minds, and The Policy Institute, following the conference. In the briefing, researchers outline 14 steps that schools, mental health services, and policymakers can take to help children and young people whose mental health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.