The Scottish Government has published a summary of the Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people. Key findings relating to specific issues / sub-groups include:
- Care experienced young people – at highest risk of mental health impacts, isolation exacerbated by lack of digital access. Emerging UK evidence that kinship carers struggled. Evidence of rise in report of child on carer violence.
- Adverse childhood experiences – report by UK Trauma Council on how pandemic is impacting on children’s experiences of trauma in terms of increasing the risk of ACEs.
Domestic abuse – Scottish evidence reports of children being exposed to increased levels of abuse. Most consistent finding related to domestic abuse perpetrated via child contact.