TW - content contains mention of suicide and mental health distress. 

By September 2, the proposed end date of lockdown 6, Victorian students will have missed 146 days of school. Since the pandemic began our kids have spent over 40 per cent of their school days at home remote learning.

School closures coupled with cancelled community sport, closed playgrounds and recreational facilities and the most stringent lockdown rules preventing social interactions in Australia and some may say the world has given rise to widespread isolation, fear and devastating mental health issues.

There is an explosion in mental health cases in youth and teenagers including eating disorders, suicidal ideation and self-harm.

It’s been termed the SHADOW PANDEMIC

Kids are crying out for help.

According to Kids Helpline there has been a 184 percent increase in suicidal ideation in Victorian children.

A report by the Victorian Agency for Health Information shows:

- over 340 teenagers a week have been admitted to hospital suffering mental health emergencies in the six weeks leading up to May 30, 2021, as reported by The Australian. This is a 57% increase on the same period last year. 

- in the most serious cases, where teens required resuscitation and emergency treatment, surged to a six weekly average of 37.3 cases to the end of May. This is an 83% per rise on last year and a 162% increase on 2019. 

- an average of 156 teenagers a week were rushed to hospital after self-harming and suffering suicidal ideation. This is an 88% increase on last year. 

- mental health bed occupancy has hit 85%, compared with 67% in 2020 and 63% in 2019 

On Monday August 3, 2021 a record 3,345 calls were made to Lifeline.

Kids Helpline has reported 200 percent increase in calls from children aged 5 and 52 percent increase in weekly demand by young people.

In 2021 Kids Helpline counselors have acted upon 37 emergency care actions on average every week related to a suicide attempt, an increase of 95 per cent from 2020.

Our Aims: 

1.       Acknowledge and address the shadow pandemic in Victorian children and adolescents

2.     Put children and teenagers front and centre in all future decisions regarding lockdowns and restrictions – this means broadening the skillset of those at the table.

3.      Share the roadmap for schools to urgently reopen and remain open

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1.      Follow @shadowpandemicvic on Instagram and use #shadowpandemicvic on all posts

2.      Be part of a weekly Sunday Covid SAFE event in solidarity with Victorian Children who are suffering due to prolonged school closures. Details below

3.      Sign and share this petition which will be disseminated to politicians and decisions makers