This Presentation is about how Covid 19 has affected Gen Z and how government policies have responded to the mental health crisis

1. The Kids aren't alright:
Generation Z, Covid 19 and The
Mental Health Crisis in Response
to Government Policy

2. Covid 19: A Global Crisis
● Coronavirus is a contagious respiratory
disease
● The first reporting of the disease was
reported to be in Wuhan, China in
December 2019.
● On January 2020 The World Health
Organisation (WHO) declared the virus a
Public Health Emergency of International
Concern and as of March 2020 they
issued it a pandemic.
● As of May 16th 2022, the pandemic has
caused more than 521 million cases and
6.26 million confirmed deaths, marking
it to be one of the deadliest in history.

3. Covid 19: The UK
● On March 23 2020 PM Boris Johnson
announced that the UK was to go into its
first lockdown, a further two more were to
follow this over the course of several
months.
● A total of 3 waves of inflection.
● As well as having devastating effects on
the UK’s health service The NHS, the
pandemic has impacted the UK’s
economy, society, politics and caused
disruptions in education.

4. Statistics recorded on 10/05/22

5. So how are you Generation Z?

6. A Lonely Generation
The need to connect with others is an innate, evolutionary drive. So when the
world was sent into a series of lockdowns due to the pandemic, a whole new
epidemic set in: loneliness.
A friend in need: Generation z and the internet
74% of GZ spent their time online, 73% use the internet to connect to friends
texting/chatting
TikTok videos with the hashtag #mentalhealth have accumulated more than 20
billion views. And that’s not counting #anxiety, which has almost 11 billion views,
or #adhd, with close to 9 billion

7. The Internet is a time capsule
“Are you feeling nervous?
Are you having fun?
It’s almost over,
It’s just begun”
Inside, Bo Burnham
2021
“The special is, at its core, a rumination on
the relationship between the internet, the
socio-political state of the world amidst a
global pandemic, and one man’s subsequent
descent into a deep and dark depression. In
other words, it’s right up Gen Z’s alley.”
(All Arts, 2021)

8. How has the Covid 19 pandemic affected
educational policies?
“Since its outbreak two years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education systems globally,
affecting the most vulnerable learners the hardest. It has increased inequalities and exacerbated a pre-
existing education crisis. School closures have ranged from no closures in a handful of countries to up to
more than a full school year. Lack of connectivity and devices excluded at least one third of students from
pursuing learning remotely.”
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation

9. A Few Factors that
have had
consequences to
Mental Health

10. Educational Division
In the UK, 57% of private schools students have accessed online learning
sessions during Covid school closures while for working class state school
students this dropped to 16%. (Together Band,June 2020)

11. Cancelled A-Level/GCSE Exams
“I want to have some form of exam this summer especially since I’ve worked really hard over the last few weeks…not being in school/
having a timetable made me feel really depressed/ stressed over lockdown. As a result I got really low on my mocks (which was two
weeks into September after 6 months of no school). My predictions suffered…”
“Personally I find it absolutely ridiculous for exams to be cancelled…Students spend their whole school careers preparing for exams and
some rely on a final exam, and for their opportunity to be ripped away only to be given “predicted grades” when we are in school anyway
is absurd and unfair.”
(Social Mobility Foundation, 2021)
40% of grades were downgraded in England after exams were cancelled due to the Covid 19
Pandemic

12. Social Distancing
● Personal relationships/family/friendships
● Loneliness
Study also revealed that young people aged 18 to 24 were most likely to experience loneliness since the lockdown
began. Before lockdown, one in six (16%) said they felt lonely. With lockdown restrictions in place, young people are
almost three times more likely to have experienced loneliness, with almost half feeling this way.
Two thirds of students said they have ‘often felt isolated or lonely since March 2020
● Social Skills and impact on healthy social-emotional development

13. Digital Classrooms / Remote Learning
● Lack of Motivation
● Digital Divide
● Social Isolation and Lack of Interaction
● “Zoom Fatigue” - refers to feelings of exhaustion after long Zoom classes or video conference
calls.
● Increased Anxiety and Stress - Not be able to separate school and hometime

14. The Centre for Mental Health recently estimated that up to 10 million people, including
1.5 million children and young people under 18, may need mental health support in
the aftermath of the pandemic.
74% of students reported that Covid-19 has had a negative impact on their mental
health and wellbeing (Student Minds)
Statistics

15. Have I seen the impact within my own institution?
● Students confidence
● Social/personal relationships
● Students appreciation
● Anxiety towards assessments/exams

16. The Reaction

17. Reaction from my own institution
● I’m in Campaign
An interactive programme of weekly activities to engage all students online, allowing them to interconnect
with other students in a variety of ways, including online societies, student parliament, SU elections, health
and fitness and careers guidance.
● Mental Health Awareness Week
● Support provided for parents/students
/
● Community

18. XXXX Sixth Form - Mindmate Friendly Status
● First College in the city to gain this achievement proving the commintement the situation has to
the wellbeing of students
● The Health and Wellbeing Service Advisor at xxxx City Council who worked with the college, said:
“There has clearly been a huge investment in pastoral and academic support, allowing students
to reach their full potential. The college has demonstrated how their staff are committed to
going above and beyond for students’ welfare and act as a strong pillar of support, resulting in
an outstanding self-assessment.
● “We understand the importance of supporting our young people and their families, especially during
such a difficult period. We are currently planning a ‘green box’ initiative, which will see parents and
carers receive a mental health support kit. This will include advice and research-based strategies, which
aim to bring a better quality of life during emotionally charged periods, such as the lockdown or
exams.” – College principal

19. How will it impact my teaching practice going forward?
● Awareness and Knowledge
● Patience
● Classroom Environment
● Accessibility and Differentiation
● Extra Curricular Activities

20. Timeline of Recent Events (England)
• August 2021: pupils’ grades for GCSE, AS, A Level and equivalent qualifications, are issued to pupils, based on
teacher assessment.
• Early September 2021: schools reopen for autumn 2021 term; no further requirement to keep pupils in separate
groups, or ‘bubbles’, nor to routinely send home groups of pupils when one tests positive for coronavirus.
• January 2022: Schools return from the Christmas and New Year break; face coverings temporarily reintroduced
for secondary-age pupils in classrooms and when moving around the school, unless exempt.
• End of January 2022: face coverings no longer required in either classrooms or communal areas.
(House of Commons, Library, March 2022)
The Government's response to Mental Health?

21. Conclusion