Northern Ireland Youth Forum · 2020
The Northern Ireland Youth Forum (NIYF) ran two surveys during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, gathering 1,065 responses from young people across Northern Ireland. The research found that young people's key concerns included mental health, boredom, isolation, and education, with post-lockdown worries shifting to socialising, adjusting to new measures, and health and wellbeing. A striking finding was that 72.5% of respondents felt their voice had not been considered important, and 80% felt decision-makers were not listening to them. Despite widespread anxiety, many young people also expressed hope and a desire to contribute to their communities during the crisis.