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Has The Pandemic Affected Your Mental Health?

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global population, with hundreds of millions of cases; however, what is also alarming is the mental health pandemic – the rise in mental health issues associated with the indirect, but far-reaching, impact of the virus.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that one in five adults in the UK say that they have experienced some form of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of self-reported mental health issues has also increased since the beginning of the pandemic, with the number of adults experiencing some form of depression rising from 19% in June 2020, to 21% by the third lockdown (December 2020 to March 2021).

Here, we look at how the pandemic has affected, and still continues to affect, daily life, and how this is linked to a national rise in mental health issues.

The Pandemic As A Barrier For Seeking Help For Mental Health

Not only has the pandemic been a catalyst for mental health issues, it has also been an obstacle for those who need psychiatric help. According to the ONS, ‘there has been a 30% decrease in all diagnoses by GPs in England during late March to the end of August 2020, with the number of depression diagnoses falling from 1,131,804 in 2019 to 863,578 (a 24% decrease)’. This, in correlation with the rise in self-reported cases, indicates that people are not seeking help for their issues during this time. This could be due to:

• Fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus while visiting a health professional
• Anxiety about leaving the house due to spending a long time inside during lockdown
• Not wanting to be a burden on an already stressed healthcare system
• Being unable to get an appointment due to a patient backlog

Christos Kouimtsidis, Consultant Psychiatrist at The London Psychiatry Centre, explains, “The COVID-19 pandemic is a double edged sword in terms of mental health. Firstly, people are becoming anxious due to fear of contracting the virus, then depressed due limited social contact, financial worries, and more. Then, there are barriers to receiving treatment, such as a fear of visiting a clinical environment or perhaps limited availability with a GP practice. However, it is possible to improve mental health without attending an in-person appointment. Video and phone consultations have been very helpful for many patients, and it is also important to have a good support system from friends and family, get outside regularly and reduce stress at work where possible.’

Health Anxiety And COVID-19

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, which means that it is a new pathogen of a known type (the type being coronavirus). Although there is a lot we know about coronaviruses, this particular pathogen is new to the scientific and healthcare communities, which means that there have been a lot of unexpected discoveries in the way that it interacts with the human body. Understandably, this causes many people to suffer from health anxiety, or, anxiety about what will happen if they contract the virus.

This can lead sufferers to isolate themselves from society, develop an anxiety and/or sleep disorder, and there is even a possibility of developing an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) around cleaning themselves, their surroundings and those within their home such as children.

Those with health anxiety may also be reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, or seek medical help for other medical conditions to avoid visiting a hospital or clinic.

Substance abuse

Consumption of alcohol, sedative medication and over the counter medication has increased during the pandemic, sparking concerns about addiction and substance abuse as a coping mechanism. In the period between March 2020 and March 2021, it has been revealed that there was a 58.6% increase in drinking at increasing risk and higher risk levels. Meanwhile, a study of reports from several countries states a general increase in use of benzodiazepines, a common sedative often used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia.

Work-related stress

Frontline workers

Frontline workers across the world have had to put themselves at risk throughout the pandemic, perhaps even working longer hours due to staff shortages, and under more intense and stressful conditions. This, coupled with the worry of being at a higher risk of infection, are just a few of the reasons why frontline workers are more likely to experience high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety and depression during the pandemic. The British Medical Association conducted a study which revealed that over 28% of doctors have suffered from depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, emotional distress or other mental health condition, which has been worse during this pandemic than before.

Working from home

Much of the population has experienced a shift from office work to working from home. For some, this has been a positive change, with an end to stressful commutes and the ability to spend more time with family. For others, this may have been a trigger for depression or anxiety due to lack of definition between work and home life, too much time spent with the same people and/or not enough contact with colleagues and working longer hours.

Furlough and redundancy

Finally, there are those who have been placed on furlough during the pandemic, or experienced redundancy. While the furlough scheme has been a lifeline for many, others may have been greatly affected by their lower income, causing financial anxiety and stress which may be exacerbated by the uncertainty of when they can return to work. Redundancy, of course, causes these same stresses, and may even place stress on other members of the household who feel that they might have to make up the lost income.

All of these situations are made worse by the lack of relief in the form of a holiday, socialisation and other recreational activities. With the difficulties of international travel, and even domestic travel during lockdown periods, some employees have resorted to spending paid holiday leave at home, where some have even resorted to working to fill the time – or not taking leave at all. Working without a considerable break, or a reward such as a holiday to look forward to, is unsustainable and can result in a build-up of stress and, eventually, burnout, which is not only dangerous from a mental health perspective, but can affect future performance at work. Symptoms of burnout include:

• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Insomnia or disturbed sleep
• No enthusiasm for work
• Constant feelings of negativity towards your work
• Anxiety and dread about starting the working day
• Inability to perform at your job

Loneliness And Isolation During the Pandemic

We have written about loneliness and lockdown before, but lockdown has not been the only aspect of the pandemic that has caused loneliness. Post-lockdown, other causes of loneliness have included:

• Social distancing
• Self-isolating
• Limits on travel
• Restrictions on the number of people that can meet up at once
• The closure of key venues for socialising, such as bars and restaurants
• School closures

Increased loneliness during the pandemic has been linked to the younger generations, who will have been adversely affected by the above restrictions due to the need for socialisation at this key point in life. In late 2020, 69% of teenagers said they felt alone “often” or “sometimes”, while 35% reported feeling lonely often or most of the time despite spending three hours on social media. Meanwhile, other areas of society greatly affected by loneliness during the pandemic include the elderly, single person households and those living in areas with high unemployment.

Getting Help For Mental Health During COVID-19

The pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone, but if your mental health, or the mental health of someone you know, has been adversely affected during this time, it is important to seek help. At The London Psychiatry Centre we offer in-person appointments, as well as telephone or video appointments for those unable to leave their homes. Get in touch with us using the details below:

T: 020 7580 4224

E: info@psychiatrycentre.co.uk