The number of children being referred for mental health support rose during the first year of the pandemic as more youngsters were living in poverty, a new report has revealed.
Hundreds of school pupils were identified as needing help in towns across East Lothian as Covid restrictions were introduced - with the numbers highest in the poorest areas.
And the council's head of children's service Judith Tait said an increase in poverty was not just down to the pandemic - but caused because benefits were not enough for parents to feed their families.
READ MORE: Pupil absence 'significant' in East Lothian schools as Covid virus spreads
A report on children's services across the county during 2020/2021 revealed a snapshot of the issues facing children and young people in its towns over the year.
It revealed a rise in demand for access to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), a rise in children referred to social services and a rise on the number of families who were living in "relative poverty".
The report by Judith Tait - who chairs East Lothian Children’s Strategic Partnership - revealed the number of children living in poverty has risen over the last eight years in all towns.
And it said that the independent food aid network which operates throughout Scotland had additionally experienced a 123% increase in the 3 day parcels provided in the space of a year.
The report said: "The increase from the previous period last year (was) exacerbated by the pandemic but primarily as a result of benefits being insufficient to allow families to buy enough food."
The report broke down the main issues facing children in each town by the number of school pupils, percentage in 'relative poverty', numbers referred to mental health services, social work and requiring additional support needs (ASN).
In Musselburgh, which is the biggest town in the county there were 3,177 pupils during the year with 21% living in poverty (up from 18% in 2014/15).
The number of ASN pupils were 950 - nearly a third of all students - and 899 children and young people were referred to social work, with 115 referred for mental health support.
In Tranent, which has more children aged 0-15 registered at just under 4,500 than any other town in the county, 2,876 children were in school. Poverty levels were at 19% (16% 2014/15) and there were 864 ASN pupils.
In total 812 children were referred to social work and 131 for mental health support during 2020/21.
Prestonpans had 2,460 pupils and 17% in poverty (up from 13%) with 833 ASN pupils and 745 children referred to social work. Mental health referrals were made for 58 children.
In Haddington there are 1,846 pupils with 14% in poverty (up from 12%) and 482 ASN students. Social work received 405 referrals and 37 children were referred for mental health support.
Dunbar had 2,406 pupils, 12% of them in poverty (up from 10%) with 407 with ASN. 369 children were referred to social work and 50 for mental health support.
In North Berwick there were 2,118 pupils, 10% in poverty (up from 7%). There were 443 ASN pupils, 236 referrals to social work and 27 for mental health support.
The report said referrals to children services had risen by 57% over the last decade with the most common reasons parenting issues, domestic incidents and mental health issues.
Summing up the report Mrs Tait said: "2020-21 was an exceptionally challenging year for children, young people and families with a wide range of impacts on their health and wellbeing from COVID.
"We achieved much during the year and strengthened our relationships and partnership working.
"The priorities identified for the children’s strategic partnership remain very much aligned with the national policy direction and recognition that supporting families, improving mental health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities was and will be essential in helping our families and communities move successfully through and beyond the pandemic."
