Covid-19 and Mental Health

2019 saw the arrival of this strange new word to our ears: ‘corona.’ Now a year and a half later, mid 2021, and this word is commonly predicted on our smart devices and frequently spoken. The word ‘corona’, derived from the crown-like horns on the virus, has very much become a part of modern life. Getting close and personal to others was our natural human disposition of showing affection and socialising with other people, but even this has now had to be stamped out for everyone’s safety. This massive worldly shift has caused us to rapidly change our outward behaviours. Inwardly, however, the adjustment has not been such a straightforward one, and in turn the implications of Covid-19 have exacerbated other issues for many of us.

'In the United Kingdom' It is only in the last decade or so that people have felt comfortable and confident enough to speak out on the topic of mental health. In London, Public Health England reports that “19.3 per cent, equating to nearly one in five Londoners are being diagnosed with mental health disorders, a figure higher than in any other region in the country.” Perhaps in some ways, this pandemic has given the world that little push to break free from the shackles of what were once considered social taboos and speak out on the implications of ignoring one’s mental health.

It is of no surprise that isolating, social distancing, and avoiding mixing in groups has had detrimental 'health' consequences. And for those who have battled with the disease itself, the NHS have recently introduced services for ‘Long COVID’, a term used to describe long term effects after having the virus, both physical and mental, such as tiredness, joint pain, depression and anxiety.

Every demographic has in some way been a victim of lockdown and Covid-19, whether of not they have caught the virus itself. Isolation and anxiety amongst older people was already a prevalent issue, with many being forced to live alone or in retirement homes and away from loved ones, and the pandemic has undoubtedly worsened this. Age UK reported that “around 3.3 million people aged 70 and over in Great Britain have had their wellbeing impacted by coronavirus, experiencing feelings of worry, loneliness, stress and anxiety.”

Young people have also been hit hard, missing crucial classes and exams, and staying home from school. The London Assembly Health Committee reported that “85 per cent of the young Londoners surveyed said that the pandemic had made them feel either down, or very down.” While having time off from school may have have initially seemed to them like a dream, for many it quickly became a nightmare of being away from their peers for so long and not having the opportunity to maintain the close bonds every young person needs with those their age.

Within London communities with people from Black, Caribbean, and Asian backgrounds, the mental health service Thrive LDN reported individuals were dealing with extra pressure to support friends, family, and wider networks financially and having to support worse-off family members either in their local communities or to relatives.

The world has truly been hit hard from the after-effects of lockdown, and unfortunately it would be impossible to list the vast number of issues that have been impacted by Covid-19 such as those already suffering from anxiety, depression, stress of caring for a loved one, and bereavement to mention a small list of the many groups of people who will unquestionably be struggling through these times. Admitting that we may need help with our mental health is by no means a sign of weakness, but in fact a powerful display of one's strength, and it is crucial for us all to know that we are not alone, and these situations affect us all at some point.

Thankfully we can say that a sense of normality does seem to be on the horizon for us all. With restrictions being eased and lifted we are now steadily on track back into enjoying normal life once again and being able to see and interact with our loved ones, friends, and family.

The great news is that within London there are many different kinds of services that aim to assist those struggling with their mental health and to provide support:

• Good Thinking is a London based site that encourages individuals to look after their mental health in a way that suits them. The digital service, launched in 2017, is available 24/7 and provides a range of handy resources, videos, and self-assessments, all that can all be accessed anonymously.

• Thrive LDN is a London service created with the aim to improve the wellbeing and mental health of Londoners. The service supported by the Mayor of London and led by the London Health Board partners have a wide range of webinars, videos, and resources on current issues to do with mental health.

• Mind is a service that works throughout England and Wales providing advice and support to any person experiencing a mental health problem. They fight for awareness and acceptance across all the UK for the improvement of nationwide services.

At the British Red Cross, they have been working to tackle the issues rising to the surface through services such as the coronavirus support line, for those suffering from worry and loneliness - further resources can be found here.

If you feel you may be in need of support or assistance regarding your mental health you can contact your GP. The NHS also have a great deal of resource material to support those who are experiencing difficulties in coping with their mental health and all their information can be accessed here.

For more information on up-to-date Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines, see the gov.uk guidelines.

A note on the author: Hey there! I’m Moremi, and I joined the British Red Cross this year. I like to think of myself as a creative and imaginative person, who enjoys reading, writing stories, and poetry. I also adore learning as many things as my brain will let me, such as geography, history, and languages. A few little facts about me are that I can speak Spanish, some French and would love to learn Latin and BSL one day! I have always been passionate about putting my time into doing things that hold a special purpose and strive to spread a positive change in the world. I moved back to my hometown after some time away and began volunteering locally with my community. I decided to become an advocate with the BRC because I was really moved by the outpouring of love, support, and assistance that the country received by volunteers during the pandemic, and thought to myself, I want to do that too! One of my main objectives as an advocate is to learn about the current issues my community is facing and try to work together with others towards making a positive change. I also felt that joining the BRC would be an excellent way for me to meet new people from different walks of life and share in each other’s knowledge and understanding of the world. I hope in 2021 I will be able to push myself to do new and exciting things with the BRC that challenge me and discover different ways in which to positively impact this little planet we all share!