Life during lockdown

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Probably the best help that I could have is a reduction in people trying to drum up business for mental health professionals and volunteers!

This leads me to ask why are they busy and seeking more patients?  Is it because not many are in need of help?  If so, it's good news!

On the other hand, is there an explosion in demand?

On balance, I think compared with the physical health and financial problems that have resulted from the pandemic, mental health is a trivial issue best left to rumble on in its usual way.

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I don't do paid work but I volunteer at a charity, working with children (some are vulnerable or have special needs) teaching them life skills.  I am missing this work and the contact with the children and other volunteers.  My husband works from home and my children are now being schooled from home and I am the only one with no actual framework to my day.  I am normally very active - out in the fresh air or moving about a lot of the day and this lack of activity is really driving me batty, although some days are worse than others.  I have volunteered for NHS Responders but so far have had no jobs allocated, but I finally yesterday got hold of some fabric to make scrub caps for the hospitals. So something to do at last. Small fry compare to most people's problems though.  

I fear greatly for the charity's children and those like them who may be stuck inside in challenging environments and I think the parks need to stay open for a long as possible for those who do not have outside space.  There should be more emphasis in the media placed on the science behind the 2m distance requirement, as this is still not being respected enough.

There is a constant feeling of nervousness and it is only when we the people are reassured when testing kits and PPE are fully available, that this will disseminate.  Everyone is nervous and provision of these items to all those who need them will go a long way to making people feel calmer.  There will be a lot of mental health issues coming out of this and just ensure that the resources are there to cope with it please.   

There are several big lessons from the crisis.

one of the main ones is the importance of access to parks and public spaces for exercise and mental wellbeing. We need more such spaces as poorer districts have less access than more prosperous ones. We must also plan to invest more in existing parks.

The mortality statistics show that the poorer members of society and those from BAME backgrounds are more likely to fall victim to the virus. This reflects ongoing socio-economic inequalities in society which must be addressed as a matter of urgency. I raise this here because it has impacts on our collective mental health.

Being isolated has exacerbated some mental health conditions, such as depression and loneliness. We need a much higher investment in our social services. This should include a revamped Sure Start programme, more resources for youth services and better links with a better resourced NHS.

Universal salary. This is something which should be considered to enable low paid, self employed and zero-hour-contract staff to attain a standard of living that doesn't inflict unnecessary stress or strife upon them.

These changes bring health and social improvements which would generate savings elsewhere and lead to a happier, healthier and fairer society. 

I feel extraordinarily fortunate:  I'm nearly 74, in good general health and strong mentally.  I live in my own home, with no mortgage, and with a pension still being paid.  My husband died some time ago and from time to time I have a lodger: she has not been able to leave so I am not on my own at this challenging time.

My generally full social and cultural life has changed radically, but I'm now doing various activities on zoom.  I'm comfortable with the internet and technology which helps me to feel connected.  And the phone is great too.  I'm particularly impressed by the BBC service (always but particularly at this time).  The various streamed activities have helped too.  I very much hope that the improvement in air quality and the reduction in CO2 emissions can be maintained.   And that the generally positive attitude within communities can continue.  I hope some real positives can emerge from this, for so many, very difficult time.  Let us learn from the good things.  Though we have to hold the government to account for their mishandling at the start of the pandemic.  I fear for the poorest in our communities who, as usual, are bearing the brunt of the challenges presented by the pandemic.

The prospect of no pubs for months is deeply worrying because most of them will not survive a lockdown of that length.  Not much use lifting the lockdown when they are all gone

It's indeed a hard and challenging time for all people.But luckily right guidance and support is available by the government for all of us.

Much appreciate the dedicated efforts of NHS and all front line community staff members.

Stay strong and blessed all.

I'm currently working from home as a contractor for a company and there's a reasonable probability that I will be laid off in the next month, yet I can't be furloughed as I'm not a direct employee (even though I act like one). I'm an Australian citizen and am ineligible for social support, my life is here and even if I wanted to go home, flights back to Australia are prohibitively expensive/all cancelled. As someone who paid an Immigration Healthcare surcharge just to get here, and pays 28-30% of my wages in taxes/national insurance, shouldn't there be any support for people living and working here? Canada is supporting people on working visas and not just citizens. Most Brits didn't do anything to earn their citizenship, just like I did nothing for mine. It should not be a factor, especially in a crisis like this.

Another point, police have been overzealous and wildly inconsistent in their actions. Some have been harassing people for being on their front lawn, and then last Thursday they didn't seem to mind about a thousand people on Westminster Bridge breaking social distancing rules (including themselves) doing the clap in support of NHS workers even though this action makes the situation worse, and their reaction to a few sunbathers in Victoria Park was not to fine them, but to force shut the park entirely, to the detriment of the mental health of everyone living nearby in cramped apartments. It's now re-opened but shouldn't have been closed in the first place.

I am definitely feeling more anxious at this time.  I don't want to go out as I only feel safe inside my home. I don't want my partner to go out as he has underlying health issues and catching COVID-19 would be very bad for him.  It is forcing us to self-isolate at home but we take it as it is as we can't do much about it.  I am lucky enough to be able to work from home.

I am using techniques of mindfulness and yoga to help me with my anxiety, which I can source online.  People without access to the internet will obviously be greatly disadvantaged in the current crisis.  But the neighbourhood volunteering service in my area is very good and very active to reach out to as many people as possible.

The government is not doing it's part in working towards a solution for providing the NHS with what they need. They are also failing to encourage supermarkets to get food delivery services up to speed with current demand.

The monetary schemes they are providing are necessary, but there will be a lot of people who will fall through the cracks of these supports. My partner will be one of them soon, as he will not be entitled to any benefits.  Once that happens our anxiety levels will go through the roof. And I am not looking forward to that!

I am perfectly happy and my life has changed only a little.  Fortunately I know very little about mental health so cannot make any worthwhile comments.

I own a small business and my main concern is my five staff, who have been with us for over twenty years, and their long term job prospects.  I worry that if I get ill I won't be able to keep things going even after the lockdown.  This and the long term reduced cashflow implications of a long period of slow business and downturn in the economy concerns me greatly.  I am also concerned about my elderly mother's mental health.  She is a usually active eighty six year old who is finding it very difficult to have her social meetings and activities curtailed.  She lives with me and my husband so is not as lonely as some but really misses her independence.  It is hard to keep her positive and cheerful.

The biggest mental challenge for someone [like me] who is normally among the "active retired", out and about most days, often coming  into central London, is the sense of not having control of life - I have a diary full of crossings-out. But I have friends and family a phone call away. For those who have no social contact through this time the issues are obviously far greater: certainly for those who were lonely before, but also for those who are at home alone for 23 hours a day for the first time. 

The "plus", which I hope we can hang on to, is the kinder, friendlier spirit that seems to be around now - after all the divisions and hostility of recent months, it will be good if we can carry this sense of community into the difficult days after the immediate crisis passes.

I'm sure that there are a number of people experiencing loneliness probably to a level greater than they previously felt. But I consider that these, largely, may be older people without tech support. A telephone befriending service would be good but, probably, impossible to implement due to difficulties in identifying people in this category.