Coronavirus: Mental health warning as more lockdown easing expected

Professor Brendan Kelly of Trinity College, writing in today’s News Letter, notes that not only have negative emotions been “amplified by spending large amounts of time at home”, but coming out of the lockdown will also bring its own set of challenges.

He offers coping advice to people who are feeling under pressure, just as the total number of NI coronavirus-related deaths climbed to 476 yesterday.

The charity Inspire Workplaces says it has seen an additional 1,700 users since the lockdown began.

All this comes as a general relaxation of many Covid-19 restrictions is due to occur across the Province, with garden centres and household recycling facilities reopening today.

Stormont’s leaders are also expected to announce a series of other relaxations this afternoon, with outdoor gatherings of four to six people from outside the same household expected to be given the go-ahead, as is the reopening of churches for solitary prayer and “drive-in services”.

Prof Kelly said for some the lockdown has meant “fear, frustration, boredom and annoyance” – but that its easing could also herald financial and relationship problems.

The charity which said it has seen demand double, Inspire Workplaces, supports employers in managing wellbeing of their staff through counselling sessions and an online hub.

The group director of professional services at Inspire, John Conaghan, said: “The figures speak for themselves.

“We suspected that the numbers of people accessing the hub had increased but were surprised to learn that the figure had effectively doubled.”

Since lockdown measures were announced in late March, there have been more than 11,000 interactions with the organisation’s online hub and an additional 1,700 new users.

Mr Conaghan added: “Clearly the current situation is having an impact on mental health and wellbeing, suggesting people are looking for advice on how to manage it, as well as existing mental health conditions.”

It comes less than a fortnight since the News Letter ran a front page story highlighting that 40% of calls to the Samaritans mentioned the subject of coronavirus.

At that time, Samaritans Ireland spokesman Ciaran Brennan said: “Obviously, loneliness is a growing issue.

“We’ve only just started tracking Covid as a specific concern but it is referenced on a large number of calls, around four out of 10.

“Coronavirus isn’t necessarily the main feature of most calls, but it’s in the background if not the foreground of quite a lot.”

At the same time, NI Chest Heart & Stroke estimated that the numbers of people seeking help for those conditions had dipped by up to 70%.

Yesterday the chief executive of Inspire, Kerry Anthony, said at this time of widespread social isolation the impact on mental health and wellbeing will be significant.

“Physical distancing does not mean emotional distancing so it is important that people feel connected and supported through this isolation period.

“We also need to think about how we can plan for the longer-term recovery for people coming out of this crisis.

“Now more than ever, it is vital we support people, through the wellbeing hub and our one-to-one counselling and collectively do all we can to encourage those in need, to talk about their mental health and seek support.”

Martin Toner, a manager at Welfare Support Service in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, said the Inspire support hub was especially beneficial during the pandemic.

“The numerous and informative resources available, covering a wide range of issues, has been invaluable to the Northern Ireland Civil Service welfare team, who have been encouraging and guiding their clients to avail of the support available on a daily basis.

“The self-help and library resources for issues such as bereavement, an increase in alcohol consumption, sleep disturbance, anxiety and stress, have been of particular benefit and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.”