A Sunshine Coast youth outreach program is connecting with local high school students to reduce the harmful impacts of COVID-19 on mental health.
Partnering with Maroochydore State High School, the program has reached out to the vulnerable students and children of essential workers required to attend school.
Program leader Vika McFarlane said activities such as cooking classes, barbecues and gardening provide disadvantaged students with valuable social interaction and emotional support.
As children of essential workers, the students “felt that Mum and Dad had chosen work over them,” she said.
“There was a real sense of despair or hopelessness in a lot of these kids.
“Their world is social … and then suddenly this big pandemic hits and they can’t see their mates, so we’ve seen a huge increase in depression, a huge increase in anxiety.”
Mental health concerns for local youth have received minimal attention during the coronavirus pandemic.
As social distancing laws reduce face-to-face contact and encourage isolation, vulnerable young people are at risk of losing crucial support networks.
Before the onset of COVID-19, a report published by VicHealth found one in four young Victorians experience problematic levels of loneliness, which increases risks of depression and social anxiety.
This widespread isolation and mental illness among Australian youth is likely to have worsened under the COVID-19 restrictions.
In an article published by the ABC, leading psychiatrist Patrick McGorry said the impacts of COVID-19 on young people require a national response strategy to prevent a severe mental health crisis.
However, the local response of the outreach program has been vital in combating loneliness and negative mental health in local youth.
Mrs McFarlane said the program’s social activities provided students with access to counselling and emotional support as well as community.
“It was such an important time for us to get into the school … and just be an encouragement to their lives,” she said.
The outreach program will aid in maintaining the social skills and community connections developed by students during the isolation period.
According to a report published by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, these connections can increase personal wellbeing and self-esteem.
As COVID-19 restrictions ease, the mental health issues raised by the pandemic serve as a reminder of the ever-present social and emotional needs of young people.
