'They've lost hope about the future': The cruel reality of COVID-19 on young people with schoolkids dealt cruel blows – as calls to helplines skyrocket
Children have become increasingly pessimistic about their future since the coronavirus disrupted their education and calls to mental health helplines have skyrocketed, according to the government's top mental health bureaucrat.
Students in their final years of schooling and young adults up to the age of 25 are among the most affected, according to Mental Health Commissioner Christine Morgan.
Schools remained open when the majority of Australia went into coronavirus lockdown on March 23, but students were soon confined to home learning as COVID-19 worsened.
Ms Morgan told a Senate Estimates committee that the drastic job losses and interruption to schooling had a massive impact on the outlook of young Australians.
Children in their final year of schooling and young adults up to the age of 25 have been impacted the most, Mental Health Commissioner Christine Morgan said
'Their world has become quite narrow and their options have become quite narrow,' she said, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Ms Morgan explained that those in Victoria were three times worse off than children and adults in other states due to their second strict lockdown.
'Certainly for young people who are facing disruption with their education in the last couple of years of the schooling there has been a significant increase in psychological distress and anxiety amongst young people,' Ms Morgan continued.
Australians have been calling Lifeline at an alarming rate during the coronavirus crisis, with a phone call being made to the suicide counselling service every 30 seconds.
Victorians have seen a massive 30 per cent increase in calls to Lifeline since July as they battled through a second wave of COVID-19
Victorians have seen a massive 30 per cent increase in calls to Lifeline since July as they battled through a second wave of COVID-19.
'Each month since March we have been receiving almost 90,000 calls, that's a call every 30 seconds,' Lifeline Australia Chairman, John Brogden said
'So, this 22 per cent spike in Victoria is a significant sign that the new lockdown measures are taking a toll on the mental health of Victorians.'
Since the COVID-19 restrictions were enforced nationally, calls to Lifeline soared to 39 per cent.
The Kids Helpline nationally had an eight per cent increase between September 7 and October 4. In Victoria that was a worrying surge of 61 per cent.
With Medicare, Australians are able to claim 10 free sessions with a psychological therapy sessions in a year.
In August, Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced a further free 10 sessions for anyone subjected to further restrictions due to a second wave of COVID-19, such as those in lockdown in Melbourne.
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