SCHOOLCHILDREN are facing a mental health crisis following the pandemic, a report has revealed.

It is based on findings from iSpace Wellbeing's Children's Advisory Board, made up of 30 children aged eight to 13 across 12 schools including three schools in Sussex.

Pupils from Copthorne Prep, Handcross Park and Cumnor House School in Haywards Heath were among members of the board.

The key findings of the report are:

  • One in 20 children considered suicide in the last 12 months
  • One in 20 have self harmed in the last year, which is two to three in every class.

A survey of 1,000 children found:

  • 44 per cent reported they have been feeling anxious over the last 12 months
  • 28 per cent have felt increasingly lonely during the pandemic
  • One in ten said they have been bullied
  • 22 per cent have felt their parents were too busy for them
  • Over half said they missed doing things with their family
  • 28 per cent have heard their parents discussing money worries.

The Argus: The Covid-19 pandemic has increased feelings of loneliness and stress among children.

Paula Talman, founder of iSpace Wellbeing, said: "The key to helping children thrive in school? Learning that everyone needs help at times and it's OK to ask for it."

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The board created a list of suggestions to help tackle the mental health crisis in schools.

They included making a law that enforces news programmes to feature at least one positive news story, for the BBC to have a weekly programme to help young people look after their mental health and for schools to teach wellbeing lessons at the same level nationally.

The children also thought schools should allow for a limited number of days off for their mental health, just as with physical health, and employers should implement family-friendly flexible working hours.