Summer catch-up programmes need to focus on teens’ wellbeing, not just academic progress

Education leaders need to refocus efforts to address issues around loneliness and social isolation felt by many young people during the pandemic. Last updated on Monday 21 June 2021 - Summer holiday catch-up programmes to address gaps in knowledge after school closures need to support children who are still struggling due to social isolation. The authors of new research say supporting children and young people's mental health is as important as supporting their academic progress, and that particular attention should be paid to the fact that some young people have struggled more than others. Findings from their study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders , focused on the connections between loneliness, social contact, parental relationships, and the mental health of adolescents aged 11-16 during the first full UK lockdown from March to May 2020. Their analysis drew on self-reported data from 894 young people who each completed a survey throughout to gauge their experiences of lockdown and its effects on their emotions, relationships and feelings. The team from the universities of Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Leicester, Reading and UCL identified that it was the type of social contact with friends and family that most shaped young people's mental health outcomes. For example, whereas regular voice and video calls with friends had positive impacts for individuals, more indirect communications, such as increased texting / messaging, including via social media, either made no difference or had a negative impact.