Lockdown has come as a fast and striking blow to all of us, but children and teenagers have been particularly affected. I caught up with Deborah Kerpner, counsellor at “Of the record”, Twickenham about some of these issues.
Deborah said how lockdown has particularly affected teenagers as it is a more pivotal point in their lives and is more difficult to adapt too. During lockdown, teenagers have been isolated from friends, stuck at home, and unable to as easily reach out as they would normally be able to. To begin with, the number of calls cut by over half at the beginning of lockdown (because a lack of privacy at home, or not being able to cope with it being done virtually), before then increasing to above the normal amount at the return to school as previous anxieties were brought out and increased. However, this is often the case during holidays in a normal year, for similar reasons.
The anxieties are based around academic pressures and social pressures, increased over lockdown several people were particularly worried about passing on the virus to elderly grandparents or anybody at a higher risk. The Black Lives Matter movement has also caused concerns to teenagers about ensuring their friendships are inclusive and “getting it right” and how to properly act.
The problem is still continuing as many people still are not feeling comfortable with zoom sessions and are struggling on their own as they wait for face to face counselling to be able to resume.
Alternatively, some teenagers have found that lockdown has stopped them from needing any sort of counselling and has given them time to recover and enjoy themselves.
Lockdown has cause hundreds of problems for everyone, especially those with emotional difficulties who are in need of aid.
