COVID-19 Recovery and Increasing Physical Activity
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COVID-19 Recovery and Increasing Physical Activity June 2021
Welcome
Welcome to the June edition of the e-bulletin which has a focus on COVID-19 Recovery
Contents
Click the heading to go to the page
and Increasing Physical Activity.
With the easing of restrictions and summer approaching, now is a great opportunity COVID-19 Information 4
for people to motivate each other into being more physically active. Initiatives that
aim to encourage people to be more physically active and engage socially in a safe Headlines 6
way, particularly those population groups who are the most sedentary now have a role
to play.
Podcasts 18
We also have a webinar planned for Wednesday 30th July discussing how COVID-19
has affected our children and will be delivered by Dr Claire Thomas, Public Health Videos 19
Wales.
The Grapevine 20
Further information and the recordings of both webinars can be found on our website.
List of PHNC Topics 22
Next Issue 23
Contact us We would love to hear about any
additional information, case studies
You can contact Public Health or tips to share with the wider public
Network Cymru in a variety of ways health community in Wales in future
e-bulletins and our website so please
Email us get in touch with us at
publichealth.network@wales.nhs.uk publichealth.network@wales.nhs.uk
Write to us
Public Health Network Cymru,
Public Health Wales, Floor 5,
Number 2 Capital Quarter,
Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ
Social media
Twitter: @PHNetworkCymru
COVID-19
Latest information on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Public Health Wales is working closely with the Welsh Government and the other UK public health
agencies to carefully monitor the situation and implement our planned response, with measures
INFORMATION
in place to protect the health of the public.
The guidance on the measures needed in response to Coronavirus changes rapidly. It’s worth
always checking the latest information from Public Health Wales. The pages include a wide range
FOR
of comprehensive information for public and professionals.
You can find links to a wide range of sources on Public Health Network Cymru’s Coronavirus
(COVID-19) page here.
PROFESSIONALS Public Health Network Cymru welcomes feedback on this selection, and suggestions for additional
sources that may be of interest to the public health community in Wales.
Headlines
Bridgend Inclusive Network Group (BING)
Bridgend Inclusive Network Group (BING) We promote community activity opportunities
is a new and exciting social enterprise that and provide a voice for differently able
supports the Bridgend Inclusive Community. people and their families, so that
All our volunteers have a variety of personal everyone can take part in physical activities
experiences, expertise, and in-depth that improve their health and wellbeing.
Conwy Youth Service knowledge of the voluntary sector such as
charities, community groups, sports clubs For more information you can find us on:
and not for profit organisations in which we www.altogetherbridgend.co.uk/bing
Early studies show that children and young • A bubble sports project takes place on a
want to share. BING come together with an bridgendinclusivenetworkgroup@outlook.
people are amongst the worst affected by Friday night in Llanrwst and allows young
interest in promoting ability and com
the COVID 19 pandemic, and the vulnerable people to utilise our brand new bubble
amongst them even more so. Stress, sports equipment! inclusivity.
loneliness, depression and anxiety are set • Our 'StrideAway' Facebook group
to be the biggest challenges facing the encourages and motivates young Our aim is to provide support for other
mental wellbeing of young people, and it people to take part in monthly distance organisations who are providing or want to
is possible that the psychological effect of challenges! provide inclusive activities, through delivering
the pandemic will outlast the virus itself. The • 'Picnic in the park' in Colwyn Bay allows free training, activity days and taster sessions.
support young people and children will have young people to come and sit (socially We also provide an opportunity for those
received since March last year, and continue distanced), chat with their peers and take working within groups in our community to
to receive today can not only improve their part in small non-contact activities. come together and share information.
wellbeing now, but also reduce the long • Our high school based non-traditional
term effects of the pandemic on their mental sports and review group project enables
wellbeing. For Conwy Youth Service, the
COVID 19 restrictions meant that we had
young people to take part in a selection of
different sports activities each week, while
Feel Good for Life - Leisure opportunities
to adapt our way of working in order to
continue supporting the young people who •
also achieving an Agored qualification.
We take our mobile buses to some for people living with dementia, feeling
use and need our service. Since the easing
of restrictions, Conwy Youth Service have
areas of Conwy and handing out well
being bags to young people, which also lonely or low to be active and to socialise
now been able to offer these young people includes some fitness equipment to help
Halo's Feel Good for Life programme aims to
with outdoor sessions to help improve their keep them active.
provide people living with dementia, isolation
physical and mental health. We work with • A project in Kinmel Bay on a Friday night
& depression, as well as carers in Bridgend
children young people aged 11-25 within the aims at helping to encourage young
County Borough, with opportunities to be
whole county of Conwy and our activities people to engage in different activities
physically active and to socialise. Weekly
and programmes include the following: socially and have fun with their friends in
a safe and expressive way. sessions consist of an hour of tailored
• Well-being walks in different areas of physical activity, including swimming, curling,
Conwy are really benefitting the young A project in Kinmel Bay on a Friday night aims table-tennis, keep-fit, followed by one hour
people. As well as the time spent with at helping to encourage young people to of social activities, such as scrapbooking
Youth Workers outdoors in the fresh air, engage in different activities socially and have memorabilia collecting, reminiscence and
young people are improving their physical fun with their friends in a safe and expressive music. Creating this scheme, firstly required for 'Community Impact through Physical
and mental health. way. the organisations with an interest to come Activity'. The programme has now supported
• A gardening project took place in together in collaboration. This included, Halo over 120 people affected by Dementia,
Llandudno over May half term where one For more information please contact and Bridgend County Borough Council, as Anxiety, Depression, Isolation and Age
of our community youth clubs are based. chris.gledhill@conwy.gov.uk well as the Alzheimers Society, BAVO and related impairments, inc. mobility and
Here young people were able to help Awen Libraries working together, with input sensory impairments. Self-reported health
improve the outside area. from the Local Health Board, then removing improvements after three months indicate
• Fitness sessions are taking place at the barriers to physical activity. that 80% had increased levels of activity,
Abergele leisure centre. Here young 78% had reduced feelings of loneliness and
people are able to take part in different The difference that the programme makes isolation and 73% had improved mental &
sports and fitness sessions on a Monday to people's lives has been recognised as the physical wellbeing. The following quotes
evening in a safe and structured Feel Good for Life programme was awarded also help to demonstrate the impact of the
environment. the prestigious Community Leisure UK award programme:
- "He is always in such good spirits after the
sessions which makes my job as a carer a
the way in which this successfully engaged
vulnerable people in the more remote parts COVID-19: Recovery and Increasing
Physical Activity - Sport Cardiff Initiatives
lot easier, it makes me so happy to see him of the county borough and who had been
happy." - Linda (Unpaid Carer) sedentary and digitally excluded, Halo will
be working to be able to continue the on-
'Healthy & Active at Home' project This new provision will run in partnership
- "Talking to the staff and other carers that line provision as part of a blended approach
Following the recent success of the ‘Active with Better (GLL), within five leisure centres
are going through similar difficulties to me, to the Feel Good for Life programme. An
at Home’ project, Sport Cardiff have throughout the city. These centres are Eastern
gives me a great deal of support" - Frances overview of the programmes digital element
partnered with the Vale of Glamorgan Leisure Centre, Fairwater Leisure Centre,
(Unpaid Carer) has been captured in the following digi-story
Council’s ‘Healthy Living Team’ and Western Leisure Centre, Maindy Leisure
(Welsh Subtitled version)
Newydd Housing Association, via the HAPI Centre and Star Hub. Each centre offers a
During the Covid pandemic, the programme
project, to provide residents living across range of activities including walking football,
was adapted and sustained by moving to Further details and contact information can
Cardiff & The Vale of Glamorgan with the Yoga, 'Rise', body conditioning, table tennis
an interactive, on-line format, and providing be found here: https://haloleisure.org.uk/
opportunity to apply for a ‘Healthy & Active and much more.
internet enabled i-pads free of charge. Given feelgoodforlife/
at Home’ pack.
The program runs for 8 weeks and places
Let’s Move with Versus Arthritis The project aims to provide over 300
households across Cardiff & Vale with
can be booked right now via the landing
page below, with the sessions beginning
healthy food hampers and activity packs from Monday 14th June.
Versus Arthritis is the UK's largest charity In your area activities - Wales | Versus
to encourage children, young people and
dedicated to supporting people with arthritis. Arthritis
adults to become more physically active and The below landing page links, will enable
Cymru Versus Arthritis is here to make sure
that people with arthritis in Wales have all of Blogs - eat healthily. people to identify what activities are taking
the support and information they need to How can strengthening and stretching help place at each centre and to book onto
live well with their condition and to ensure your arthritis? (versusarthritis.org) The packs are designed to be inclusive sessions, by firstly registering for a booking
that the needs of people with arthritis are a How to stay motivated to exercise? and people can apply for physical activity card or via the Better UK app (both of which
priority with policymakers in Wales. Cymru (versusarthritis.org) equipment and/or healthy food packs. There are accessible at the bottom of the landing
Versus Arthritis runs a number of different Keeping yourself healthy when working from is a separate child & family pack and teenage page):
services for people of all ages with arthritis, home (versusarthritis.org) & adult packs for households that are most in
ranging from activity sessions for young Tips for gardening with arthritis | Versus need of support to become more physically English - https://leisureoffers.co.uk/sport-
people to practical support and information Arthritis active and eat more healthily. cardiff/60plus-project/
for those with arthritis. Why is swimming good for people with Cymraeg - https://leisureoffers.co.uk/sport-
arthritis? (versusarthritis.org) Residents of Cardiff & Vale are able to apply cardiff/60mwy-o-brosiect/
Let's Move is a programme for people with Living with arthritis: 6 steps to better mornings on-line or via telephone until Sunday 4th July For further information regarding the 60
arthritis and related musculoskeletal (MSK) (versusarthritis.org) 2021. Plus Active Leisure Scheme in Cardiff please
conditions who want more movement in Exercising with arthritis | Top tips, specific contact Kyle McCarthy (Move More Co-
their lives. Created by Versus Arthritis the exercises (versusarthritis.org) For further information regarding the Healthy ordinator) via e-mail:
programme is designed to support people to & Active at Home project please contact Ben kmccarthy@cardiffmet.ac.uk
get active through a variety of digital content Animations – Williams (Move More Manager) via e-mail:
including tailor-made movement sessions, What happens when you exercise? - YouTube bwilliams2@cardiffmet.ac.uk
expert tips and advice and the sharing of How to get started with exercise - YouTube
personal stories. All content is designed to Guidelines for Physical Activity - YouTube 60 Plus Active Leisure Scheme (Cardiff)
help people find the level of movement that Peer support We are excited to launch another programme
is right for them and to help build confidence Let's Move Versus Arthritis | Facebook which forms part of our ongoing 60+ project,
both in their own body and the day-to-day Cymru Versus Arthritis - Home | Facebook providing accessible opportunities to those
management of their condition. who sit within this age demographic, at local
For more information please contact Rhian venues across Cardiff!
Our website hosts a variety of expert Horlock r.horlock@versusarthritis.org
information on exercise, including exercises
for arthritis and related conditions as well as
a chatbot which can answer questions on
physical activity.
MonLife
MonLife Background indicates the usage of the digital ecosystem
MonLife is a service group delivering within linking outdoor and virtual activity to the
Monmouthshire County Council including; member's progress.
leisure, youth, sport development, outdoor
adventure, green infrastructure and Next Steps
countryside access, play, learning, destination Moving forwards the membership has
management, arts, museums, attractions and extended to join in the MonLife classes on site
active travel. as well as attending virtual classes, creating a
Our mission at MonLife is to promote wider offer.
healthier lives and inspirational experiences This membership offer is 1 month free and
and promote the vibrancy of Monmouthshire £16.00 thereafter and for the first 120 people
as a great place to be. MonLife is a one- that sign up to this programme, as well as
stop-shop vehicle for health, wellbeing and being given the equipment packs. This allows
creating diverse opportunities for all of our for options to exercise at home and at the
communities. leisure centre, providing greater flexibility
when Leisure restrictions are eased.
Why The Active 60+ Programme?
In October 2020, MonLife applied for the How The Programme Helped One
scheme with Sport Wales (funded by Welsh Customer
Government) to facilitate the Active 60+ “I have taken part in quite a few of your
Programme. The aim was to target those virtual classes and thoroughly enjoyed them
over the age of 60, tackle loneliness, improve all; Stretch and Tone, Gentle Exercise and
condition and to improve fitness / wellbeing Tai Chi. The classes are excellent and I’m
as a result of the pandemic. Monmouthshire amazed how well you can guide and monitor
has a very high demographic over the age of our individual progress throughout the
60, for many the pandemic limited access to sessions. They are all very well-planned, timed
exercise and this had an impact on wellbeing. and focused on a particular aspect of our
The Active 60+ programme provided a virtual developing fitness with a clear explanation of
app with live and on demand classes, as well how these exercises will benefit us. They have
as providing much needed social interaction. definitely made a difference to my health; I
Those that took part received a home feel stronger and fitter, my flexibility is much
workout kit of dumbbells, bands and exercise improved and my back is less painful. I feel
mats. The classes provided were a mixture of supported, encouraged and have a sense
gentle exercise, Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga. The of achievement. I feel proud when I tell my
Active 60 plus scheme launched in January grown up children, who live so far away, that
2021 with a target of engaging 85 members I have engaged in a session and I know that
by March 2021, a target that was reached. As they are delighted.
part of the scheme participants were given Apart from a fairly regular walk, I was taking
a month’s free membership to the Leisure no other exercise. Going forward, it will be
Centre to support continued physical activity difficult for me to find an opportunity to leave
and sustainability of the project. my husband who has dementia and attend a
Leisure Centre. As it is, my husband sits in the
Using Digital Systems To Track Progress room, happy to see me and hear it all going
Members have their progress recorded on in the background. It certainly helps me to
through the means of digital reviews with feel less isolated.
fitness professionals and their activity I have recommended 60+ to others and will
recorded through the My Wellness App. The continue to do so.
app records outdoor activity like walking, In truth, it has been a godsend and I
cycling, running and Live / On Demand congratulate and thank everyone who has
classes. This a great way for MonLife to record put the scheme together.”
progress of each active member. This also
Delivery Feedback from Monlife Active Account. This is a good measure to see trends Parkrun is a positive, welcoming and inclusive
60+ team of exercise so that members get the best experience where there is no time limit and no
Since our Monlife Leisure Centres have experience and improve fitness, mobility and one finishes last. Set over a 5k marked route,
re-opened, there has been a welcomed wellbeing. The instructors have also recorded everyone is welcome to participate, whether
response from new Active 60+ members members pre-test and 8 week post-test for; they decide to walk, jog, run, volunteer or
across all four leisure centres. There has been sit to stand, IPA and SWEB - the instructors spectate. Cardiff parkrun, the first to be set up
a good increase in numbers over the last found improvements across all areas. in the capital city, is located in the beautiful
month of 43 members; currently at a total of surroundings of Bute Park, situated on the
126 overall MonLife offers online 60 plus fitness package Taff trail and now has an impressive amount
- Monlife of runners and volunteers taking part every
These members have been using the MonLife Saturday morning. By including parkrun on
digital eco system. This involves use of leisure our PAP pads, we are helping to facilitate the
centre, our live and on demand classes on setup of more local parkrun events within
the My Wellness App - recording walks, cycle communities across Cardiff and the Vale so
/swims on our Monlife Strava group that that all residents have equal accessibility to
connects to the member's My Wellness an event near to where they live. One of our
most recent successes is Trelai Park parkrun,
which was set up during March 2020 and
run by volunteers from local GP practices
If Physical Activity were a Pill … the across the South West cluster area. In the
limited time it had to take place before the
use of Physical Activity Prescription pandemic hit, it has seen a great success
with 200 finishers and over 30 volunteers in
Pads in Primary Care attendance. GPs in this cluster have played
a huge part, helping to provide motivation
and create a supportive environment. For the
The many health benefits of physical activity
patients they are seeing on a daily basis, this
(PA) are well known and promoted by health
is encouragement for them to try out their
professionals, especially within primary
first parkrun, and is an invaluable resource
care. Brief interventions (i.e. discussion,
which stems from a PAP pad conversation. Covid-19 pandemic, we hope that the
negotiation or encouragement) and exercise
referral schemes (i.e. patients being formally continued roll out and implementation of
Elderfit is a Community Interest Company the PAP pads across Cardiff and Vale GP
referred to a PA professional) are the two
founded by friends Tom and Gareth, services will begin to gain momentum. We
dominant approaches to promoting PA
who between them have over 30 years’ have adapted a Covid-19 specific PAP for
within primary care. These cost-effective
experience in the fitness industry. Using their electronic use in the meantime, which GPs
interventions can generate positive changes
extensive health and fitness knowledge, they can access via the Cardiff and Vale Health
in health outcomes and PA levels in inactive
designed a session to improve strength and Pathways website.
patients who are at increased risk for non-
balance for individuals that need it the most.
communicable diseases. Key enablers include
The classes draw on a variety of techniques, Looking forward, we are hoping to build a
motivational interviewing, social support and
including mobility exercises, resistance series of case studies from patients whose
multi-disciplinary approaches. (Lion et al.,
bands and hand/leg weights. All exercises physical activity participation has increased
2018).
are adapted to suit individual’s needs, to as a result of having a conversation with their
In Wales, social prescribing has been identified ensure that participants feel the full benefits GP. This would be a fantastic resource, and
Cardiff and Vale local Public Health Team have
in recent years as an important approach to of the classes. Although the main aim of the provide motivation for other practitioners to
created a resource in support of this approach
improving population health at a policy level session is to reduce the risk of falls, Elderfit utilise the idea of a PAP with their patients.
in the form of a Physical Activity Prescription
(Emmerson, 2021). Therefore, it was important also aims to strengthen upper body muscles Having a physical piece of paper with some
(PAP) pad. Branded with our locality logos, this
that we included our community partners as for participants, so if a fall does happen they information on about physical activity options,
A5 piece of paper provides key motivational
well as providing useful information about will be more able to pull themselves back up. paired with a MECC style initial discussion with
style conversation prompts for conversations
local walks, green spaces, leisure facilities and Creating independence is a key element to the their GP, may eventually replace some patient
around PA. Paired with a Making Every
community classes. Below are some example classes, therefore helping people re-discover prescriptions which may have otherwise
Contact Count (MECC) conversational style
partner activities that are included. their confidence and stability to allow them automatically been for medication, therefore
approach, GPs can utilise this resource with
more freedom to be more physically active in benefiting the NHS system as a whole and
appropriately identified patients and easily
their daily life. also the patient as an individual in the long
provide local social prescribing information
for different activities, which can be handed term.
As we begin to start our recovery out of the
to the patient after the conversation.
ValePlus: More More in March Challenge In March 2021 we organised a small fundraiser lost an incredible amount of weight which for our Charity ValePlus. ValePlus supports we are all proud of her for. As a fundraiser, adults with additional learning needs, the Charity was blown away as we had so providing them with training opportunities much community support, we raised just and lifelong learning skills. under £10,000, which as you can imagine for Our fundraiser was called Move More in a small charity, hit by the pandemic was an March Challenge. Our initial intentions incredible amount of money. were to encourage people to exercise for 30 minutes each day in March, with the idea that From our experience to help increase physical starting the day with physical activity would activity, we have included some bullet points help with mental well-being and also have a that you might find helpful. positive impact on the rest of the day, and in • Be mindful of your own abilities turn if we could raise some money from the • Start out small, set your own targets challenge through sponsorship that would of • Challenge yourself, for a local cause course be a bonus for the Charity. • Have an exercise buddy or a walking pal. We ended up having 25 participants, including For further information contact Mark Mitchell: 2 members of staff that were supporting the MarkM@valeplus.co.uk fundraisers. We set up a What's App group and sent daily ideas of 30-minute workout to the group chat. We were very lucky that one of the staff members is a qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and ex-gym owner. We were able to record a few 30 minutes work out, which included rolling a set of exercise dice, one with the exercise and one with the repetitions on. This was a lot of fun as our exercises were literally decided by the roll of a dice! Our participants loved these workouts and both staff have continued to record these in their spare time to share with students. The fundraiser had to be open to all abilities, so there were no restrictions as to what exercise people could do as long as it was for 30 minutes, many of our participants choose to walk, whereas some helped in the garden, trampolined, did online fitness work outs, some even have exercise bikes in their houses which they used. The WhatsApp group created a small community where people could post pictures of where they had walked, but also encouraged others, which was great to see. Our challengers thoroughly enjoyed themselves. One lady also took part purely to motivate herself, so she could help control her diabetes. From feedback we have received since the March Challenge many people are still keeping up with the 30-minute walks and exercise, and one of our students has also
Swansea Health Walk Leaders Health Walk Leaders often work with existing
organisations. Many partnerships have been
forged - charities, NHS support, Friends
The benefits of walking to both physical and One day Health Walk Leader courses have of Parks, Social Prescribing, Local Area
mental health are well reported. been delivered since the pandemic started, Coordination, Swansea Council for Voluntary
with a total of 150 leaders now trained. Services, ParkLives, Actif Woods, and many
Walkers are spoilt for choice in Swansea During the pandemic the course has been others.
and Gower. There is everything from level delivered online, including practice walks
promenades and parkland for an easy stroll from delegates’ homes. All of Swansea’s Sport and Health staff
to more strenuous hikes over beaches, have been trained as Health Walk Leaders
moorland and through ancient woods. Delegates are predominately volunteers, but and are incorporating health walks into their
include sport and health care professionals. programmes. The Sport and Health team are
The Health Walk Leader programme in Most are now involved in health walks assisting in mentoring new volunteer leaders
Swansea is co-ordinated by Swansea around Swansea and Gower. Some of the as they start their own walks. Several new
Council's Sport and Health team and funded walks are open to anyone in the community. health walks have started this year and more
through Sport Wales. We are experiencing a Others are for specific groups including the are on the way.
post lockdown boom in walking across the isolated and chronically sedentary, post-
City. The Facebook group Swansea Walking health care, mental health, and local groups Walking Development Officer John Ashley
Forum has increased membership sevenfold with a common interest in improving their commented, “Health and recreational
in the last year. The Forum is key in identifying physical and mental wellbeing, inevitably, walking is almost entirely dependent on
progression walks and other activities for some new walkers are overcoming their fear volunteers. The need to recruit and support
health walkers who have achieved their initial of venturing out again into a Covid world. these volunteers was identified early. Without
aims. them we could not have achieved what we
have in Swansea.”
Photo description – The Morriston Health
Walk was started by the Friends of Morriston
Park after attending Health Walk Leader
training.
For more information please contact:
John Ashley
Walking Development Officer, Swansea
Council
John.Ashley@Swansea.gov.uk
www.swansea.gov.uk/walking
Sport and Health Swansea - Home | Facebook
Podcasts
Welcome to our new Public Health Network Cymru Podcast Page of the
Videos
Welcome to Press Play, here you can get the latest PHNC videos from youtube!
Ebulletin. Here you can listen to the the previously released Podcasts.
Our recent Podcast is with Anne McGowan who is a Nurse Consultant in the
Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, and member LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND
of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had
Anne talks to us about how Wales has performed with vaccine uptake significant health, well-being and
historically, and now, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anne also discusses socio-economic impacts for people
some of the challenges that the population of Wales faces with vaccine and communities, disproportionately
hesitancy and the effectiveness of national interventions in improving vaccine affecting those most in need.
uptake.
The podcast is available to listen to on SoundCloud.
Press play to watch the video on the
If you are interested in recording a podcast with us in the future, Public Health Network Cymru YouTube
please contact us via email: publichealth.network@wales.nhs.uk
More Videos
Vaccine Hesitancy in Wales
More Podcasts
The Impact of COVID-19 on Children
Self-isolation confidence, Employee Wellbeing in the
Nutrition: Early Years with Andrea Basu adherence and challenges Public Sector
Public Health Wales' Research and COVID-19 has changed the way we work
Evaluation Division has been doing throughout the public sector. As widespread
International Health: Migrant Health research to better understand the vaccination raises hope of a path to a new
challenges experienced by contacts of normality, there remain major challenges
cases of COVID-19 in Wales ahead on any road to recovery.
View our full list of Podcasts on our website Visit our webiste
Watch our full COVID-19 Webinar series on YouTube Watch on YouTube
Enjoyed watching a webinar? We would appreciate your feedback in this short survey.The Grapevine
to learn where these impacts have been the conducted using a series of existing survey
most profound and what has helped so far to data and published research studies, to
mitigate these impacts. identify mental health challenges that
young people experienced and some
"Our young people have shown remarkable of the protective factors that helped to
resilience and we will be examining what can safeguard their mental health and well-being
Coping strategies made a difference to now be put in place to support their recovery,
help them build a happy future, as well as
throughout the pandemic
young people’s mental well-being during ensuring that mental health and well-being
are fully considered in future plans for public
This report, along with evidence from talking
to young people and teachers in Wales, will
pandemic health emergencies." help inform a detailed Mental Well-being
Impact Assessment (MWIA) Report, that will
A new report, published today (08.06.21) by • Age was found to be one of the clearest Public Health Wales commissioned Alma provide recommendations and is due to be
Public Health Wales, identifies a range of Determinants of mental well-being. Economics to review the research evidence published later this year.
activities and behaviours that helped young Adolescents and young adults exhibit on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic
people deal with the difficult changes to their depression, anxiety, and other adverse and the associated government measures Children and young people’s mental well-
lives during the pandemic. outcomes more so than older adults or on the mental well-being of babies, children, being during the COVID-19 pandemic
younger peers and young people.
Spending time outside, keeping physically • Evidence suggests young women and Children and young people’s mental well-
active, engaging in creative activities and girls were more severely affected by the 'The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on being during the COVID-19 pandemic –
hobbies, establishing routines, maintaining pandemic than their male counterparts the mental wellbeing of children and young Research Briefing
contact with friends online and being aware • Increased calls to helplines indicate a people in Wales: literature review' was
of the nature of Coronavirus and how to possible rise in children who experienced
prevent its spread all helped reduce the abuse and violence at home during
negative mental health impacts of the lockdown, which adversely impacted
pandemic. mental health
Key findings of the publication included:
• Families on lower incomes and young
people not in education or employment Recite Me
experienced the adverse impact of the
• The pandemic resulted in some positive pandemic much more severely
impacts for some young people (for • Factors that served to mitigate some of To support people to have equal access to For more information on how to manage
example, feeling relief from social the negative implications of the pandemic online health information, the NHS 111 Wales your symptoms, condition or for details of
pressure and bullying, spending more included spending time outside, website now hosts ‘Recite me’, an easy to local health services including your nearest
time with families, taking up new hobbies, establishing routines, and being aware of use toolbar that allows you to customise the Pharmacy, visit the NHS 111 Wales website
and having the time to adopt healthier the nature of the virus and its spread website in a way that works best for you. and look out for the Recite me logo.
behaviours) • The improvement in wellbeing measures
• However, evidence overwhelmingly for all age groups at the end of summer It offers a number of features including text to
points to a negative impact on all aspects 2020 (when restrictions were eased and speech, reading aids and translation of pages
of mental well-being among children and schools fully reopened), may suggest that of over 100 languages. Recite me supports
young people, including: some negative impacts of the pandemic visitors who may be visually impaired, have
could be short lived. However, further learning disabilities or speak English as a
- Parents struggling to cope, and feelings analysis of data from the most recent second language.
of loneliness and isolation because of social lockdown period is needed to fully
distancing were associated with worse understand the impacts.
outcomes for young people.
Nerys Edmonds, Principal Health Impact
- Educational disruption, school closures, Assessment Practitioner at Public Health
and lack of access to support at school were Wales, said:
responsible for many of the worries and
anxieties children and young people have "Although Coronavirus has undoubtedly had
been experiencing far reaching negative impacts on our younger
population, it is important for usTopics Next Issue
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