COVID-19: Supporting Parents, Adolescents and Children during Epidemics (Co-SPACE)

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COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to families' lives, through social distancing, school closures and lock-down. This is also a rapidly changing situation where different pressures will arise for children, young people and their families over time. While research has provided valuable information about how parents can support their children's mental health in general, we know little about what is likely to be effective and what families need at different stages of the COVID-19 crisis. The Co-SPACE project is tracking the mental health of children and young people aged 2-16 years throughout the pandemic. This is through an online survey completed monthly by parents/carers and young people (if aged 11-16 years) and in-depth interviews with parents/carers, young people and other people who may be involved in supporting them, such as teachers. We will specifically track young people from vulnerable groups, such as those from low income households, with pre-existing mental/physical health difficulties and looked after children. The findings will help identify what protects children and young people from deteriorating mental health over time, and at particular stress points, so that we can work out what advice, support and help parents would find most useful and inform policy and public health efforts to protect mental health as the pandemic progresses.