Mental health crisis

[WindChimeTinkle]

From just my immediate circle of friends, 3 out of 4 of have had severe anxiety and depression due to the pandemic. None suffered with mental health issues before. It is not due to fear about covid but due to the horrendous way of life now. I'm not sure I can face this winter.

It feels like some people are having an existential crisis in the face of the pandemic.

Death has been hidden away for years, moved it out of homes into hospitals and care homes pretending it doesn't happen. It has allowed lots (not all) of us to lead shallow lives where we haven't had to think much about it apart from news items or the death of a relative.

Strangely enough some of the ways people are dealing with it have shadows of religion: 'If I just follow these rules well enough I will be saved', 'Look at those rule breakers (sinners) over there bringing destruction on us all.' There is nothing new under the sun.

@RainbowParadise So we allow the next generation to be the collateral damage then? The suffering from that will be far worse than the virus, I'm really starting to think so anyway

You're missing the whole point of lockdown.

The lockdown is to prevent hundreds of thousands, maybe more, of sick and dying accessing the health service all at the same.

If the virus was left to increase uncontrolled, there would be no health service for ANYONE. What do you think that would do for peoples mental health? When thousands upon thousands of people are dying alone, or even in the street because no one answers the phone or there are no ambulances, no beds, no nurses, no GP, no nothing. Food shortages, no social services to call, no police available. What happened then?

What do you think would have happened if we hadn't locked down in March, and why does no one ever answer this question

Even before lockdown, support for mental health has been run down for years. People that perhaps needed to be sectioned wouldn't because there would be no beds. Instead you'd be sent home. If you needed therapy you'd be waiting for months. At the end of the day treatment involves medication and or CBT etc to give you better coping skills

Mental health problems were rising for years as we froze wages, allowed employers to exploit workers through zEro hour or forced self employment, reduced benefits, made disabilities assessments harsh to to the point of being unfair, made people wait for 5 weeks for support, sanctioned them for being late for interviews (sometimes because they had mental health problems) while they starved to death in the hovels they were dumped in.

Now I see loads of posters saying " but what about the impact on people's mental health". It sadly wasn't important to the electorate before the pandemic and I doubt it will be after either

@OverTheRainbow88

I’m also starting to really struggle. The prospect of this going on for another 6 months is daunting; as is winter. I’m currently lying in my bed hiding from My kids whilst the eat in front of the tv!

My DC are currently munching on their 3rd McDonald's of the week whilst I have a very long bath. I know its not good for them but they are happy and have full bellies and sometimes thats enough. I've been off work due to my MH for 3 months I'm having to go back next week not because I feel any better than I did 12 weeks ago purely because I can't afford to stay on SSP I've had no support from my GP other than a repeated fitnote, I've not even spoken to my GP for the past 2 months she has just extended my fitnote at my online request. Theres next to no help from work other than "just do your best but you'll still be under scrutiny for KPIs". Some of the thoughts I've had lately have been horrendous and I've been lucky enough to be able to pull myself out of it but I can see how some can't. My DH and my my DC are great but its scary that I can sometimes think I've nothing to live for .

@TempsPerdu I already tried to explain that I didn't mean it that way.

[quote RainbowParadise]@Moondust001 I don't know what your point is as I said in one of my other posts that this is fucking over everyone in various ways- i made the point of the isolation and how cruel it is for the elderly to have the joy sucked out of the end of their lives.

But I linked to that article because it is going to be the young who suffer by far the worst of the economic consequences of the reaction to the virus. They are suffering mentally, their education and employment chances are suffering. Their was already a concern about the perceived generational divide. Things are going to be even worse now for the young. I don't dispute that it's affecting everyone but I really think it's the young who will bear the brunt from all angles. [/quote]
I thought my point was fairly clear. I don't think there is a yardstick that says some group suffer more than others. Yea it's crap for the young. It's crap for the old too. Different, but not better for one than another. Yes, struggling with your GCSE or university - with everyone else of the same age - or being out of work, I agree, it's horrible. It's horrible to be isolated, to be suicidal, or have your metal health damaged - whatever your age. It's also shit to die not having held your new grandchild. There isn't a yardstick of misery.

I work in a community mental health team and the surge in referrals is unreal. Almost all therapy and treatment has been cancelled and all our focus is on crisis work for those that are acutely unwell. And even then with a huge emphasis on those with psychotic illness (not saying that’s right or wrong) rather than mood disorders. It’s tragic. My colleagues are burnt out and most are off sick with their own mental health difficulties. For those that need support please please keep calling your team. I know you shouldn’t have to but please keep asking for help. At the moment sadly it is a case of those that shout loudest get the support.

Exactly. If people dare to be sad because they missed a holiday, birthday, miss their friends, family, income etc. Or just miss normal life, they are jumped on because 'we are in the middle of a pandemic in case you hadn't noticed' 'how selfish are you to not be able to forego such luxuries'.

A lot of people don't seem to understand that you are perfectly allowed to feel sad about/complain about the rules whilst still respecting them. It's like anyone who dares to complain about masks "Suck it up, it's for the greater good, it's not all about you !!!"

All deaths are sad, all people matter. Lockdowns do cause increased MH issues, they should only be as a last resort.

Truth is we aren't in lockdown, we have tiered restrictions (I'm tier 3 and can still go out for a meal and to work) and I don't see how we could do without them.

What we really need is better MH care, which has had massive underfunded for years. Sadly we are going to lose people, some from CV, some from MH issues and some because they couldn't get the physical treatment they needed. It's so fucking sad and everyone of those lives mattered/matters.

Why are we arguing about this? What does it achieve. No one thinks only Covid deaths matter, that's something angry people say to prove some mystical point that never seems to get made.

I don't disagree with you, it's shit, depressing and I wish it wasn't happening, but it is and all we can do is the best we can, try to help/save as many as we can.

We have three options, let it run, lockdown or take sensible precautions as best we can.

We are doing the latter right now, it's not perfect and it could/should have been handled better but it is what it is.

Exactly. If people dare to be sad because they missed a holiday, birthday, miss their friends, family, income etc. Or just miss normal life, they are jumped on because 'we are in the middle of a pandemic in case you hadn't noticed' 'how selfish are you to not be able to forego such luxuries

People are generally sympathetic to anyone who feels sad during lockdown. It's the covid deniers who are the problem. Its the "I'm going to what I want and sod the rules" posters . Basically they are covid deniers and they always talk about themselves and their own individual needs, "I'm OK so what's the probelm" kind of thing. These are the ones who couldnt care less about people suffering with depression, because they obviously wouldn't care if the virus spreads uncontrolled and so the health service collapses and people with mental health problems cannot access services. As long as they're OK, they couldnt care less

I am so pissed off with those who constantly go on about looking for the positives. Patronising claptrap. OP you are not alone. I shudder to think how many people have been affected by this ...

Whatever the response to the pandemic is will have mental health repercussions. There are very real impacts on forcing people into work where they feel unsafe and into situations where they fear infecting vulnerable family members. This would happen even more without the restrictions. Many of the young people I am teaching have talked about the worry they have over catching covid and passing it to their vulnerable relatives. Some have already had to isolate twice and are worried about how they are falling behind. The consensus amongst my senior pupils at least is that they ought to be on blended learning so they can distance. They are put in a situation where they can’t distance and where everyone judges/blames them outside of school because of it. So it’s not as simple as school being open = good mental health.
I have colleagues that were shielding previously who are stressed because they are exposed to literally hundreds of households every day and with each new case of covid in the school it adds to the stress. I’m in an area with high numbers of covid cases and we are seeing increases in the numbers of cases in our workplace and less staff which of course has workload issues as well.
So I understand that whilst lots of people want less restrictions and think it would benefit their mental health, there are also lots of others whose mental health would be even worse as they would feel at even greater risk.

@Flaxmeadow

@RainbowParadise So we allow the next generation to be the collateral damage then? The suffering from that will be far worse than the virus, I'm really starting to think so anyway

You're missing the whole point of lockdown.

The lockdown is to prevent hundreds of thousands, maybe more, of sick and dying accessing the health service all at the same.

If the virus was left to increase uncontrolled, there would be no health service for ANYONE. What do you think that would do for peoples mental health? When thousands upon thousands of people are dying alone, or even in the street because no one answers the phone or there are no ambulances, no beds, no nurses, no GP, no nothing. Food shortages, no social services to call, no police available. What happened then?

What do you think would have happened if we hadn't locked down in March, and why does no one ever answer this question

At what point did I actually say I was against lockdown? How am I 'missing the point'? Stop trying to make out that everyone who thinks there hasn't been enough balance in how this has been dealt with wanted to carry on completely as normal with no measures. It's fucking bollocks and lazy tbh. I would never have advocated carrying on as if coronavirus didn't exist- I just think the bigger picture needs to be looked at as well, at what is going to cause the most suffering long term. Even the WHO agrees.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/29/national-lockdowns-should-be-backup-plan-on-covid-says-who-envoy

And everyone should be questioning what is happening to civil rights and democracy right now.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/law/2020/oct/27/covid-measures-will-be-seen-as-monument-of-collective-hysteria-and-folly-says-ex-judge

@Redolent

I saw that tweet yesterday too, it was very sobering but not surprising unfortunately.

Mental health services were already stretched and not good enough pre covid. I dread to think what state they’re in now....

The MH crisis currently happening is very scary. I am not worried about Covid at all but I am worried I will be a victim of lockdown. I don't know how much longer they can expect us to live like this. It's reminiscent of the Great Depression but self-inflicted - or rather inflicted on the working class by their overlords.

@Inkpaperstars

I have chronic mental health problems and without medication I might not still be alive. I likely will never be able to function without it, sadly. Yes, I do think that people whose problems are not so longstanding but largely situational will be able to come off it.

Of course it won't be right for everyone and many don't need it. A lot of people are not in fact experiencing mental health problems, just having a normal human reaction of feeling sad, concerned, troubled etc. The absence of happiness is not a mental health problem. However, many are developing mental health problems and trying medication, while very far from ideal and possibly not helpful, could be worth a try if it saves them from becoming worse.

We shouldn't be in this position but we are, and there is no moral victory in becoming severely unwell because you should have had another way when one isn't available.

I am not convinced by the approach of this govt or any other particularly, I don't know what the most effective measures would be. However, there is no way of going back to normal, if the restrictions aren't messing everything up the virus will be. Ideally we limit the extent to which it is both. So I am afraid I do not buy the idea that the mental health problems all stem solely from an imposed regime, and that there would therefore be some kind of worthwhile resisitance in not taking whatever measures you can to help yourself.

I completely agree with this.

@Jericoo

The MH crisis currently happening is very scary. I am not worried about Covid at all but I am worried I will be a victim of lockdown. I don't know how much longer they can expect us to live like this. It's reminiscent of the Great Depression but self-inflicted - or rather inflicted on the working class by their overlords.

"They" are imposing restrictions as the alternative would be even worse for everyone.

Feeling so demoralised tonight and I want to hear from likeminded people. I don’t want to be asked what the alternative is or be told that people are dying or that their 3 year old has coped perfectly well in a mask since April. I am usually such a positive and outgoing person and this lockdown and all the endless restrictions have totally ruined me. I am either feeling so angry that someone is telling me where i can or can’t go, who I can or can’t see and now even what my own children must wear or I just feel so demotivated and sad I worry that I am not engaging properly with my DC or setting them a strong and resilient example.

I’m in France, second lockdown begins in a matter of hours. Yes schools are open but now all of my 4DC have to wear a mask at all times apart from while eating due to the change in regulations which means that now over 6’s have to wear a mask in school all day too. So the DC can go to school but that environment is now even more alien and all after school play dates, clubs and activities are cancelled as they must come immediately home after school and then not leave the house. Nor can anyone leave the house at the weekend, except for an hour (with a form) and that hour must be within 1km of your house.
I had signed them up to a school Mum organised trick or treat trail this Saturday which was painstakingly organised with timings and a trail map and protocol for collecting sweets to ensure it was responsible. My DC love Halloween and this is yet another thing cancelled for them.
My DH is waiting to hear for definite if he will be working from home but it is likely. Me? Well I get to do the school run and maybe the occasional food shop (with a permission form) and that’s about it. No language lessons, no conversation group, no meeting up with friends etc. I had a work from home job before moving but got furloughed and then let go from that back in March as the company couldn’t survive, so no job. Many friends and family had plans and even some eurotunnel bookings to come and visit us but nobody has been able to come.

But, what makes me the most fucked off is all the revellers, the people getting some sick joy from losing even more of our freedoms. Local SM pages are full of people exclaiming how glad they are it’s such a harsh lockdown, how glad they are young children will now be sitting in a mask all day and even more separated from their friends and normality. I just can’t understand it and it’s making me so angry. How can anybody be happy with this. Lockdowns aren’t working and at the end of the day we are trying to fight a microscopic virus, evolved specifically to infect as many hosts as possible using all manner of human habits and biology. Yes it spreads easier than flu and yes it causes a problem for a higher percentage of people that flu, but ultimately it is just an extra virulent virus and millions of people are losing businesses, jobs, family time, freedoms and their mental health for something that will cause most people to feel a bit ill for a few days. I know this because despite all the masks and hand gel and one way systems and social distancing, I just tested positive on Monday so still managed to get infected! I can appreciate in my despair that I seem to have been lucky and although I did feel like I had a bug and so felt not quite right with a headache for about 3-4 days, I am already feeling mostly recovered so I have had the experience that the vast majority of the public will have.
I know there’s long covid and it’s dangerous to older people but then that’s a life risk everyone carries with pre-existing viruses.
The revellers also spout the same old lines about it not lasting forever and that wearing a mask and not hugging your DM is nothing compared to becoming very ill or being alive during the war! But, I wasn’t alive during the war, I am alive now!! This is my time to be alive and I don’t want to spend the best part of a year or more (with no end in sight) not seeing any of my family, unable to travel, unable to plan anything, sitting uncomfortable in a wholly unnatural feeling mask. Calling my DMIL as often as possible to make sure that she is doing ok living completely on her own and having been unable to see any of her DC or DGC since before March due to all of them now living across the channel.
Living in France is new to us, I have no idea where I will be able to buy the DC xmas presents or even when since we are locked down until at least the 1st December but maybe until 14th. Yes there is online shopping but it’s massively more expensive as everything costs to deliver.
Just totally and utterly had enough!!

" "They" are imposing restrictions as the alternative would be even worse for everyone."

I fundamentally disagree - the alternative would only be worse for a tiny percentage of people who are very old.

I fundamentally disagree - the alternative would only be worse for a tiny percentage of people who are very old

No it would not be just a tiny percent. We have a large elderly population and large numbers of them would require health service assistance, and crucially, without restrictions, this would be all at the the same time.

If this virus was allowed to spread uncontrolled there would be millions of people infected in a short space of time. This would mean that not only the dying would require care, but also many more sick would also require assistance. Add on top of that all the health care staff who might be off work sick too. Also social services staff, the police, supermarket staff and so on

The lockdown isn't so much to prevent people being sick or dying. It is to prevent it happening all at once, in a short space of time.

@WindChimeTinkle

From just my immediate circle of friends, 3 out of 4 of have had severe anxiety and depression due to the pandemic. None suffered with mental health issues before. It is not due to fear about covid but due to the horrendous way of life now. I'm not sure I can face this winter.

I’m really sorry to hear this OP, both for you and your friends.

The law allows visits for mental health. I’m afraid I can’t link to it but I looked it up when I was on the edge myself. So are they seeing any friends? They should.

@TheDailyCarbuncle

“no one even noticed it, until China pointed it out and panic broke out.”

Do you really think it would have passed unnoticed?

Do you still believe herd immunity would have been the best approach?

OP @WindChimeTinkle

Are you and your friends able to support each other, even by keeping in touch regularly and talking through things?

It sounds awful for you @Lostinacloud. It is utter shit and it’s extremely arrogant and futile for humans to believe you can ‘beat’ a virus, unfortunately scientists are extremely narrow in their view and politicians are arrogant, a terrible combination. I think the economic fallout is going to be horrific and the mental health problems just as terrible.

I actually don’t care about random elderly people I don’t know dying of a virus, I find this hand wringing about the deaths of people in their 80s and 90s ‘taken before their time’ bizarre. My dad who is 89 also can’t understand it, he is far more worried about the future of his grandchildren than a ‘sodding virus’ as he puts it. We’ve cancelled life to prevent death. History will not judge us kindly. Best wishes to you, keep plodding on.