MENTAL health remains a "massive issue" for children and young people as we go into 2021, the director of a Bradford learning centre has said.

Loneliness, not being able to see friends and family and missing out on school time amid the pandemic has made young people more susceptible to the "hidden disease" of mental illness, says Mahesh Patel, of First Class Learning Bradford.

Mr Patel says he noticed young people "struggling a lot more" in 2020 than in previous years, with coronavirus having a "huge impact" on their mental well-being.

He even estimates that "90 per cent" of people saw a decline in their mental health last year, amid COVID-19.

"The hidden disease of mental health has been a massive issue. You can't always tell, but a lot of young people have been affected", he says.

"It hasn't just been a huge problem for kids, but it has been for adults as well. I'd say most people, around 90 per cent, have been impacted in one way or another.

"Not being able to mix with family takes its toll. There's been loneliness, there was no Christmas, no Eid, no Diwali. It's been horrible for all of us.

"A lot of kids have gone hungry too, with the pandemic increasing poverty, which is not good at all".

Mr Patel was speaking less than a month after the opening of his new learning centre, Premier Learning.

The centre, which is at Enterprise 5 Retail Park in Five Lane Ends, opened on 10 December and hosts tuition in core subjects, as well as in computing and coding, sports, art and design and modern foreign languages.

The centre also doubles up as a sports shop, selling gym and sports equipment, as well as having a cafe.

"I think it's very important that we've opened Premier Learning, as children need a lot of support right now", Mr Patel says.

"Kids have missed months of schooling. With the situation around COVID getting worse, they may miss more, which is going to disrupt their learning even further.

"It's really important that they catch up, and a lot of kids need extra help, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds and also some children from 'BAME' communities.

"Premier Learning is open seven days a week, from 10am to 8pm, and I hope we can give that opportunity to young people here in Bradford.

"The centre is COVID-secure, with social distancing rules in places, and hand sanitiser and face coverings being used.

"We're also Ofsted regulated and all our staff are qualified teachers who have been DBS-checked.

"We've also been doing mental therapy sessions for kids, amid the mental health crisis we're seeing. We have tutors trained in supporting kids with ADHD, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, depression and anxiety. 

"We want to make kids feel welcome and safe and address all these growing mental health issues."

For more information, Mr Patel can be contacted on 07808 524406.