Worrying article in the Guardian

[SpongeCake23]

www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/16/uk-lockdown-causing-serious-mental-illness-in-first-time-patients?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1589620149

People with no history of mental illness are developing serious psychological problems for the first time as a result of the lockdown, amid growing stresses over isolation, job insecurity, relationship breakdown and bereavement, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has disclosed.

Adults and children are having psychotic episodes, mania and depression, with some taken to hospital because of the heavy toll on their mental wellbeing.

Eight weeks into lockdown measures, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is warning that services could be overwhelmed by “a tsunami of mental illness”

Psychiatrists are also concerned about stress linked to the fear of contracting Covid-19. Being cut off from family and friends, and disruption to normal NHS services, are also exacerbating existing mental health problems. Some now refer to the emergence of “lockdown anxiety”

A specialist in the psychiatric care of children and young people said they had seen more under-18s with autism having to be admitted for inpatient care because they were “not coping with changes re Covid” and others “with deteriorating mental health state and increase in significant self-harm and increase in completed suicides”.

Something needs to be done and quickly, in my opinion.

This is going to have a longer lasting impact and more devastating after effects than the virus itself.
We’ve already had a family member commit suicide during the lockdown, because of being in the shielding catogery, but also a struggling alcoholic. I luckily don’t know anyone who has died of Covid, but I know people who have had it and are now fine.

This is a virus with a very high survival rate, I’m terrified for the future, especially for my son.

Strawberryjam I've been fine for years. I've been keeping it together and really pretty stable for years- I know what I need (not to have the kids full time), and have always managed well with school + childminder (who may or may not be prepared to take the kids part time starting 1st June, at the moment I can't face asking her in case she says no. It's going to be questionable how much I could afford to send them anyway). I tend to cope and cope up until a certain point - and then suddenly really really not. Luckily, the friend who has offered to advocate for me is a health visitor, which will be really helpful with this head, who will probably give a flat refusal- guidelines or no guidelines. Got to get all my ducks in a row- talk to the LEA, my GP, see if I can find some kind of autism advocate...

Thank you, humphreygoodman xx

I'm bipolar and weirdly am managing a lot better than so-called "normal" friends. I feel
as if I'm used to having to deal with some truly awful times this seems relatively ok. I'm lucky though as so far I've only know acquaintances to die.

You too @Godzillasonice. What on earth are we doing to our society? This all makes me want to weep

Resilience seems to be something which has fallen out of fashion. People have to learn to try to deal with problems in a sensible way, not just give in and give up

I'm sure you don't mean that to sound smug eaglejulesk but it does.

You're not suggesting that people with mental health problems need to try a bit harder, are you ?

I have been banging on about this since I knew about this virus in January, that despite the losses we might face because of it (I didn't expect it to come close to what we have) The mental health of the nation is going to suffer.

In my area, the waiting list for adult mental health is 6 months and the children's is non exsistant.

I am not sure why people might be surprised at this considering how often this is commented on.

Political its going to be the aftermath that is going to define this government, but all the rest of us can do, is keep checking in with friends and relatives

As someone who has mental health problems this was ok for the first few weeks as it felt like normal but as the time has gone on, I have had an horrific time, but friends and family (plus partner) have checked in on me, made sure I was ok and I have done the same for them.

Thank you @HumphreyGoodmanswife it’s scary how much she has changed. She’s always been strong and resilient (we’ve been through some things over the last few years) but his has tipped her over the edge. It’s heart breaking.

@crackofdoom - that sounds awful. Is there not a way that you can send them now? My understanding is that the schools were supposed to care for certain vulnerable children as well as key workers. I have no idea how vulnerable is defined in this context but in any event, as take up has apparently been lower than expected in many areas you could enquire whether they might be able to take your children now if you disclose your circumstances?

"Resilience seems to be something which has fallen out of fashion. People have to learn to try to deal with problems in a sensible way, not just give in and give up"

The next time I see my severely autistic son hurting himself because he doesn't understand why everything has changed I'll tell him that. I'm sure it will help him and me.

Apologies I see someone has already suggested this.

@Godzillasonice It really is. Not being scientific here but, quite frankly, things are crap at the moment. Your DD being ill isn't a sign of lack of strength or resilience on her part, I'm disgusted that you feel you even have to try to justify that she is usually 'strong'. We've suddenly lost our household income overnight, we are stressed to bits, DS is coping well, DD is 13 and really struggling. We are humans, sociable animals, we need other human physical interactions. There is nothing weak about that. Your DD should not be collateral damage in all this, she deserves better. Virtual hug to you xx

I agree OP.

I have had periods of very serious struggle already (it come in waves for me, from suicidally depressed and extreme to coping and happy within days, sometimes hours). I have experienced MH issues in the past in the same pattern.

Anyway, in a recent down period, I posted on MN about my COVID-19 related concerns (which were a bit wayward due to my state) including referencing my MH state/issues.

I have never experienced such distain, disregard, lack of any empathy. I was told I needed to just get on with it, pull myself together and that I could buy my way out of any problem I may have (I revealed I did not have financial worries). Lots of stuff about previous wars and how everyone coped (I know they didn't, my own family members didn't, but still). Society might pretend it gives a shit about MH but actually people treat it as an irritation. We just need to 'develop resilience', (which was apparently around in abundance until it went out of fashion!)

post edited by MNHQ

I'm so de-sensitised to emotion that I can't feel concerned about the reactions of my children or family. I won't be here, that will be my relief. All these people born or equipped to 'cope' can get on with doing that without me. They can rely on the Blitz spirit that I seem to have misplaced.

It's awful but it's not the lockdown causing the problems. It's the virus
This There is no easy or quick way out of this. There isn't 'something' that can be done except the steps Toffee outlined earlier about PPE, trace and testing, continued lockdown, and proper quarantine procedures if the government refuses to close borders.
People are looking for solutions that worked in a pre-pandemic world that doesn't exist anymore.
If only all the MH services hadn't been decimated. Perhaps there would be more support available now.
DH and I have both struggled in the past. We're regularly checking in with each other to see how we're keeping afloat. I worry about DSIS who has significant MH issues but her approach so far has to be in denial about the severity of the risk and to try to live her life as she did pre-lockdown which tbh is adding to the stress on everyone else.

@ohlookanothernamechange it sounds like you are in a very dark place, please get help. There are people out there who care. Posting online doesn't always get the most helpful responses. Please talk to your GP, to Samaritans, or your local crisis service.

I agree. Acute MH services are still operating. You should definitely contact your GP or MH worker asap. Try one of the helplines too. MIND is another one to try. Remember also you are allowed visits by someone providing essential care. Your severe MH issues count as needing essential care.

Try not to get upset by responses here. Some people are suffering immense MH distress over having to return to work whilst the infection rate is still high. Some are BAME, some are over 45, some have underlying conditions, others live with or have a loved one at risk. They too have been shown no empathy and told to 'just get in with it' as if their lives and the lives of their families are expendable. Try to ignore those sorts of comments. There are lots of more understanding people out there.

This lockdown is going to cause more problems health and economic than corona virus. All the cancers untreated and undetected. Wrong on every level. People's mental health, suicides murders.

Yester I think it's what PicsInRed and RhubarbTea say. Sometimes it's having already been through immensely intolerable experiences that gets us through another extremely difficult period. Again I caveat that with an acknowledgement that we're all different.

crackofdoom Please talk to your health visitor. That's quite concerning if you feel unable to cope with having your children full-time. They'd understand it's not your fault and you need support but it would definitely make them vulnerable enough to qualify for school despite lockdown.

@PicsInRed
So insightful and astute. Yes, completely agree. I’ve been through hard times and it has prepared me for this.

The trauma of giving birth to twins after enduring abuse, splitting with abusive partner, and then being totally isolated was awful for me...but has toughened me up!

It's not the lockdown that is the problem. It's the virus and the way the Government has chosen to approach it. They opted to turn the NHS into a skeleton service because they knew it was too underfunded, too understaffed and so lacking in PPE that it couldn't cope with anything else.

A lot of people are struggling with their MH because of the virus and the narrative that lifting lockdown is the answer isn't helpful for their MH at all. Neither are all the threads dismissing genuine concerns about school returns and infection rates as though they're posted by people who just want to skive at home.

It suits the Government and the political parties to try to create two sides in this. But people don't need to perpetuate those divisions. We should all be able to recognise and respect that there is no solution that doesn't affect the economy, that doesn't result in deaths and that doesn't negatively impact MH.

Creating a fantasy that lifting lockdown eradicates the MH impact of the virus is both naive and dangerous.

My DD2's friend..and our neighbours' daughter, took her own life 2 weeks ago..she was 26 and a nurse who was on the frontline. She had previously battled depression and anxiety but was getting along ok..til Corona Virus and the stress of her job.
Her devastated parents are currently arranging her funeral, and every time I see them my heart breaks for their grief. THAT is what this virus is doing to some.

My own DD1 is a frontline Covid doctor. She's already battled her own MH problems of anxiety and anorexia, and now she has seen patient after patient die, without being able to do any of the normal helping things she does as a doctor who cares. She tries to sound positive but I know her too well and she is deeply traumatised by what she has has seen, what she is experiencing on the frontline.

There are going to be so many terribly damaged people after this.

@HumphreyGoodmanswife thank you I’ve had so many people tell me she needs to pull herself together or that she’s just attention seeking. The whole wartime resilience is ridiculous my grandad was a paratrooper who was terrified to leave the house once he returned. He never got any help as he didn’t want to appear weak. Do we really want to go back to that?

@ohlookanothernamechange please seek help there are still places open.

StillMedusa I hope your DD can access appropriate support. PTSD is going to have a very real impact on everyone on the front line and sometimes those in the heart of it don't realise how much support they need, how much trauma they have internalised

"I think we need to start working on building resilience in individuals.
This could well go on for several years with restrictions & lockdown relaxed for months at a time and then locked down again."

Alternative plan: if lockdown is eased enough to make international travel possible, those who are able to move to another country that is handling things better. I think we're unlucky with out government - they're really messing things up.

Good post @AnneOfTeenFables
All this time and energy should be focused on calling for the government to take the necessary measures to mitigate the damage.

We can't go back. We can't magic the virus away. We can't make everything ok. We can learn from our mistakes and do something now. So that we're not in the same place or worse two or three months down the line.

@AnneOfTeenFables Good points.