I completely understand why we need to do this social distancing and social isolation, but it’s incredibly difficult for some people, particularly those with pre existing mental health problems, like me. So a little compassion wouldn’t go amiss. The same people on Facebook who were writing #bekind about Caroline Flack’s suicide are now being positively vile about people’s mentsl health and how dare anyone bring up such things at this time of crisis?
I relied on face to face peer support to manage my anxiety and depression. Now that’s all gone. I was also on the long waiting list for counselling.
Anti depressants are being told they’re not a priority medication, so people are being asked to wait a whole weekend for them, which is a long time if you’re relying on these to get through each hour.
I’ve been thinking about those with addictions and who rely on AA meetings or gamblers anonymous. Then there’s domestic violence and child abuse. There’s already been lots of calls to childline.
Those saying ‘just sit on the sofa and watch TV’ don’t understand the enormity and impact this is going to have on some people’s lives. The fallout is going to be unprecedented.
I think about an older lady I know, who goes to the mental health group I attend, she comes out for the company since she’s a widow. She attends other social groups too, like a knitting circle. I do worry about how she will cope by herself, for now and god knows how much more time...
I think we need to look at the bigger picture here.
Young people are going to suffer with this too. There’s already been a suicide of a young girl who was so distraught at the thought of social isolation and her world being cut off, she took her own life.
www.itv.com/news/2020-03-22/charity-warns-coronavirus-could-lead-to-mental-health-epidemic/