Would this be a 'reasonable excuse'?

[Berline]

Like everyone else, I have had a tough year. I suffer from anxiety and depression and have had to resort to meds to keep it under control for past few months.
Unfortunately, I am now in local lockdown. All my family and friends live 15 minutes away in a non-locked down county.
I am not very sociable so I'm OK-ish with this but I do have a close friend who lives alone who is autistic who lives in a non-locked down area ( if in same county could pair up-grr!) and we have relied on each other for support.
I fear that without this support we will both go under again.
I don't want to break any law but I'm really worried that without seeing this one person, I'll crack.
Any advice, please?

Zoom.

It’s against the guidelines but legal to go for a social distanced walk.

Your friend as an adult living alone can form one bubble with other household.

Depending on your individual area restrictions...

Could you not be in each others bubble.. If one of you lives alone?

Meet up for walks outside at a social distance?

In my lock down area single people are not required to be totally alone... Mainly as they realise this isn't good for peoples mental health...

Bollocks to Zoom. It's not a substitute for human contact.

Supporting someone (or each other) with mental health/ neurodevelopmental difficulties is a reasonable excuse for meeting up with a person outside of those permitted by law.

(Not sure of the specific laws for your area as they do vary. Irrespective, it is permitted.)

Unfortunately, I'm no longer allowed a bubble with anyone in another county only my own.

Are you allowed to meet for walks at 2m apart? Failing that phone calls as often as you can?

If I were you, I would meet somewhere rural for distances walks. Many would disagree and would think you stick to rules and sacrifice your mental health, but all the science has told us outside, socially distanced, is safe. I wouldn't be prepared to lose my mind again, so I would use my common sense and safely see people.

Not posting and running. Just got things to do. Will read any replies later. Thanks.

Are you sure you can't bubble? Are you somewhere other than England? I"m in an area with additional restrictions in England and can't mix households but I am allowed to continue my bubble with my relative who lives alone, a few miles away in the next county.

@SqidgeBum

If I were you, I would meet somewhere rural for distances walks. Many would disagree and would think you stick to rules and sacrifice your mental health, but all the science has told us outside, socially distanced, is safe. I wouldn't be prepared to lose my mind again, so I would use my common sense and safely see people.

Same. You can protect your mental health whilst not taking a risk wrt covid. It will help nobody if both of your MH worsens to the extent that you need medical help, so it's legitimate and responsible for you to take outside, socially distanced steps to avoid that.

who lives in a non-locked down area ( if in same county could pair up-grr!)

If you're in England, I don't think there are any restrictions on a single person having a support bubble. Lockdown or no lockdown area, I think it's still the same

I'm back. Thanks for replies.
Yes, I think socially distanced meeting is way forward on this.
Morally, I don't think I'd be doing anything wrong. I mean I want to see family but can cope for time being without them but I do need this one person right now.
Also, from a legal perspective, I've just had a look at rules and it seems avoiding injury illness is reasonable. I think I'd be doing that.
To help someone who is mentally ill/disabled always allowed and I am on meds and friend is diagnosed autistic certainly fits the description.
Not saying this to be antagonistic but only to get ducks in row if stopped by police.
Thanks for advice.

Not in England. It's confusing I know.