Primary school-aged children with long Covid are significantly more likely to have a mental disorder than those without, according to a survey. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found pupils from reception to Year 7 suffering long-term effects of the virus were 30 per cent more likely to have at least one probable mental illness.
Parents across the country were sent questions to answer on behalf of their children, with around one per cent of primary school pupils estimated to meet the Delphi criteria for long Covid. The Delphi method defines long Covid as being present if symptoms affecting everyday life continue over a 12-week period or longer.
A total of eight per cent of primary school-aged pupils were found to have a probable mental disorder and a further 7.6 per cent had a possible mental disorder, according to the figures. About 30 per cent of children with long Covid presented with a probable mental illness compared with 7.7 per cent without long Covid.
The trend was similar for secondary school pupils – 22.6 per cent compared with 13.6 per cent – but this was not found to be a statistically significant difference. The ONS added that the analysis does not account for children’s mental health status before having Covid, so causality cannot be inferred.
Around 2.7 per cent of secondary school students met the Delphi criteria for having experienced long Covid and 13.8 per cent overall had a probable mental illness, according to the data. Among primary and secondary school students, “loss of taste or smell” was the only symptom more prevalent for those with a positive Covid test than those without.
The study also surveyed headteachers about the level of mental health provision in schools, with 87 per cent saying their school had a designated lead for mental health. Of those with a designated lead, 95 per cent said they felt very or fairly confident that their school was able to implement the activities needed to develop a whole-school approach to mental health.
Lack of time and staff resource pressures were among the reasons listed for not feeling confident in the remaining five per cent.
