Coronavirus Hub for Young People

We, Young Healthwatch Hillingdon, are a group of local young people aged between 11 and 25 who volunteer our time to help make sure that young people’s voices are represented throughout health and social care services in Hillingdon.

We have created this hub because the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic is affecting all of us and we as young people are experiencing disruption, worry and concern in many different aspects of life. Schools, colleges and universities have closed, exams have been cancelled and we are all having to find ways to connect with the people we love and cope with staying inside most of the time.

We hope the information here will help.

Myth Busting

There is so much information about Coronavirus out there at the moment and it’s really hard to know what is true and what is ‘fake news’. We thought we would try to help you find information you can trust and bust some myths.

Our advice is to try and only read information about Coronavirus from official sources:

NHS Government CNWL

Only reading credible sources of information can help you avoid the fear and panic that misinformation may cause, which can make anxiety worse. Having access to good quality information about the virus can help you feel more in control.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has created a Myth Buster list so if you aren’t sure if something is true or false, you can check here.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

It’s always important to look after our mental health and wellbeing and even more so now at this very difficult and sometimes scary time. Here are some tips to help you do this:

Try to avoid excessive exposure to media coverage

When information is always at our fingertips, it can be difficult to not constantly scan for Coronavirus updates online, but this can make feelings of worry even worse. It’s important to find a balance while keeping informed. If you find the news is making you feel stressed, set boundaries for how much news you read, watch or listen to. For example, turn off phone notifications from news apps.

Look after yourself

It's normal to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed as we read news about the outbreak. Focus on the things you can control, instead of those you can't. Where possible, maintain your daily routine, and prioritise your wellbeing and mental health. It’s ok to ask for help to do this so talk to friends and family to get ideas for how to manage your time and emotions.

Stay connected and reach out to others

Keeping in touch with your friends and family and talking through your concerns can help ease the stress caused by COVID-19. Check in with people who you know may be worried or live alone.

There is also lots of information, advice and support available online. Here are some links that we hope might be helpful:

• Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
• SORTED
• Link Counselling Service
• Children’s Commissioner
• Children’s Guide to Coronavirus
• KISS
• Hillingdon CAMHS
• Kooth Online Support
• Healios
• ThinkNinja – Some of our members have tested the ThinkNinja app and you can read their reviews here.
• P3 Navigator
• The Mix
• YoungMinds
• Brunel University Student Wellbeing Service