We are still deserving of help says Leeds teenager who urges others to talk about mental health issues as lockdown impact continues

Ellie Davies, 14, of Pudsey, said lockdown has had a major impact on the way she accesses mental health services, but she urged others to remember they are "still deserving of help".

Ellie and her mum Debbie have spoken to the YEP during Children's Mental Health Week.

They want to raise awareness and have told how school closures and isolation are affecting young people's mental health.

Ellie, a student at Leeds City College 14 Plus Academy, has suffered from anxiety problems for around six years and the Covid pandemic and lockdowns have exacerbated her condition.

She said: "I think it has heightened my anxiety with how up in the air things are and how you have to expect the unexpected. The worst part of it for me has been the lack of routine.

"Not being able to go to college has been really difficult for me. Not being able to socialise has been really isolating. A lot of people are becoming quite anxious and are struggling at the moment with the situation. I have had to reach out to a lot of new services."

She said: "It has been super important to me because it is the routine that has kept me going."

Urging young people to get help if they are struggling with their mental health, she added: "Reach out, don't be put off by the current circumstances. You are still deserving of help and there is help out there."

Debbie, a single parent who works full time running Pudsey Dog Park, tells of her daughter suffers physical sickness as a result of her anxiety and has had to create a new routine to try and mitigate the effects.

She said: "Being in a routine is so important to her. If you vary the routine it throws her into disarray and she becomes anxious and the symptoms can be quite severe. She gets upset stomachs, migraines and gets tearful and anxious. It has been quite difficult.

"She doesn't go out very much. It is quite stressful for everybody and even more stressful for the kids. The lack of contact with school friends and not being able to do the things that kids do is quite stressful. She has had to regroup and sort a new routine out for herself.

"It is very difficult and she feels isolated, not able to communicate with friends as you would one to one, it's all over Zoom."

Ellie tells her story as The NHS encourages young people across the city to speak to others about how they’re feeling and seek out help if they need it for Children’s Mental Health Week which runs until Sunday.

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