COVID-19 and the lockdown effects on mental health.

[bramling]

I know many people (perhaps the majority -certainly in the UK) usually have something to look forward too (poorest in society excepted) and that is their 2 week holiday to the sun, Majorca etc. With the pandamic it seems that in all likelihood even that maybe taken from them. That will undoubtedly affect mental health if there is nothing to look forward to.

I do think that philosophy is a little disingenuous, even if it may hold true for many. I should have been away on holiday today for two weeks in Wales, which I’d been looking forward to since last summer. It’s not the end of the world, I’m simply glad to be here, seemingly healthy, along with the rest of my family, in a rock-solid secure job, and in one of the nicest countries in the world.

Missing out on a holiday really isn’t such a bad deal, it’s a kick in the teeth as typically the weather is fine which isn’t a given for U.K. holidays, but I’m finding things to do in my garden instead.

I do think it would help people if they focus on the many good things they have, rather than becoming angry about the few things which, for once, they can’t do.

 

[HH]

I know many people (perhaps the majority -certainly in the UK) usually have something to look forward to (poorest in society excepted) and that is their 2 week holiday to the sun, Majorca etc. With the pandamic it seems that in all likelihood even that maybe taken from them. That will undoubtedly affect mental health if there is nothing to look forward to.

I'm a member of certain facebook groups and the most common post at the moment is the "cross fingers that we can go on holiday" - many of which have no chance, because they "can't bare to miss their trip to X".

But everyone will be missing stuff - the telly addicts are missing their favourite programs; sports fans have nothing to watch; those taking part in sports and the like, cannot; theatre goers are stuck for possibly a year; those who frequent pubs and restaurants are stuck with home cooking/drinking. The list goes on and on. And none of this stuff is likely to be in the early tranches of easing. Really, to borrow MG's phrase from yesterday, you have to be stoic. Nothing you can do is going to change things one iota; find new pastimes and activities and make the best of things.

Edit - ninja'd by bramling!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I do think it would help people if they focus on the many good things they have, rather than becoming angry about the few things which, for once, they can’t do.

I agree, but trust me, those with mental health, depression, suicide etc - (the title of this thread) do not think "Oh I will focus on the good". I am a total 100% glass is half full not half empty person. I nearly always think the way you suggest. But in 1989 when I went through clinical depression and was suicidal and wanted to walk in front of a Class 31 hauled train, but took a whole bottle of pills washed down with a bottle of wine instead, I did not and could not focus on the many good things I had.

Mental health is not that simple. It really isn't. Please trust me on that.

 

[bramling]

I agree, but trust me, those with mental health, depression, suicide etc - (the title of this thread) do not think "Oh I will focus on the good". I am a total 100% glass is half full not half empty person. I nearly always think the way you suggest. But in 1989 when I went through clinical depression and was suicidal and wanted to walk in front of a Class 31 hauled train, but took a whole bottle of pills washed down with a bottle of wine instead, I did not and could not focus on the many good things I had.

Mental health is not that simple. It really isn't. Please trust me on that.

Agreed, however it doesn’t help when there’s a culture of negativity about aspects of this. Likewise the way some people seem to be trying to inflame a young/old divide in all this.

There’s no one to blame (not in this country anyway, and it isn’t going to help trying to blame China), so we best just try and make the best of it.

It disturbs me to hear of “angry” young people, it’s like being angry when the weather is bad, there’s not much we can do about it so best just to focus on the positives.

 

[Domh245]

It doesn't follow that a similar proportionate increase will be feeling suicidal.

You'd do well to stop conflating Mental Health with suicide.

 

[greyman42]

I'm a member of certain facebook groups and the most common post at the moment is the "cross fingers that we can go on holiday" - many of which have no chance, because they "can't bare to miss their trip to X".

But everyone will be missing stuff - the telly addicts are missing their favourite programs; sports fans have nothing to watch; those taking part in sports and the like, cannot; theatre goers are stuck for possibly a year; those who frequent pubs and restaurants are stuck with home cooking/drinking. The list goes on and on. And none of this stuff is likely to be in the early tranches of easing. Really, to borrow MG's phrase from yesterday, you have to be stoic. Nothing you can do is going to change things one iota; find new pastimes and activities and make the best of things.

Edit - ninja'd by bramling!

I think it's the people, such as myself, who enjoy socialising who are finding this the hardest. There seems to be nothing left to do if you live this sort of life. The people who don't really socialise a lot are probably finding this a lot easier.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Definitely agree with you about the culture of negativity not helping. Imho the media are contributing to that culture. We are all supposed to be in this together and trying to apportion blame does not help either.

 

[HH]

You'd do well to stop conflating Mental Health with suicide.

? It's not me who is doing that. In fact, the opposite.

I think it's the people, such as myself, who enjoy socialising who are finding this the hardest. There seems to be nothing left to do if you live this sort of life. The people who don't really socialise a lot are probably finding this a lot easier.

Some people are spending a lot more time socialising than normal; it's just by video rather than face to face. Also I'm not sure that you're right about people who don't socialise a lot; it possibly depends on whether that's by their choice or not?

Piece on the BBC about anxiety. "Women reported anxiety levels 24% higher than men on average". Is it me, or have most of the apocryphal reports on here been about men?

 

[greyman42]

Some people are spending a lot more time socialising than normal; it's just by video rather than face to face.

That is not socialising.

 

[bramling]

I think it's the people, such as myself, who enjoy socialising who are finding this the hardest. There seems to be nothing left to do if you live this sort of life. The people who don't really socialise a lot are probably finding this a lot easier.

Surely socialising doesn’t have to be face-to-face? I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up with a few people by phone - it’s easier as many people don’t have commitments at the moment so have more time to talk. The current situation does have opportunities if people look for them.

 

[greyman42]

Surely socialising doesn’t have to be face-to-face? I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up with a few people by phone - it’s easier as many people don’t have commitments at the moment so have more time to talk. The current situation does have opportunities if people look for them.

For me, socialising is face to face.

 

[takno]

Surely socialising doesn’t have to be face-to-face? I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up with a few people by phone - it’s easier as many people don’t have commitments at the moment so have more time to talk. The current situation does have opportunities if people look for them.

I've looked for them played with them and completely used them up by week 4. I don't like zoom calls, only really enjoy phone calls for an hour a week, have chatted on text chat with all the people I can face. If one more person suggests we all cheer ourselves up with a quiz I'll go spare.

All I've got left is the fact that it's sunny which I do enjoy, but even that has brought our neighbour outside for their daily bonfire. So now the flat I'm not allowed to leave is absolutely full of smoke for several hours each day.

The bright side right now is that I've got a secure job when lots of people I know really don't, which is definitely more of a less-dark side

 

[HH]

For me, socialising is face to face.

"socialising - the act of meeting for social purposes". The definition doesn't say that it has to be physically adjacent.

We seem to have a lot of people here who are determined that their glass will not even be a quarter full.

All I've got left is the fact that it's sunny which I do enjoy, but even that has brought our neighbour outside for their daily bonfire.

Our council has said that these are not allowed. Maybe you should check if yours has done the same?

 

[bramling]

"socialising - the act of meeting for social purposes". The definition doesn't say that it has to be physically adjacent.

We seem to have a lot of people here who are determined that their glass will not even be a quarter full.


Our council has said that these are not allowed. Maybe you should check if yours has done the same?

One thing this shown, is what a good thing it is that a proportion of the population are normally at work, as it stops too many people from getting under each other’s skin! I’ve been hearing quite a few gripes about noise, bonfires and the like. Personally I find it oppressive going for rural walks and finding every day is like a bank holiday.

Must admit I’m not seeing much evidence of people being unhappy - most of those I see out walking look pretty content. Perhaps they’re the fortunate ones - furlough money freshly in the bank, six weeks off work, and not crossed their mind to think about what the future may hold...

 

[scotrail158713]

That is not socialising.

It won’t ever replace face-to-face contact but in the current climate it’s better than nothing

 

[yorkie]

...I’m not seeing much evidence of people being unhappy - most of those I see out walking look pretty content. ..

You can never be certain. A boy who committed suicide looked happy and content the last time he said hello to me.

I don't know what evidence some people need, but here is more..
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18420508.york-samaritans-see-surge-calls-lockdown/

SAMARITANS in York have seen a surge in calls from domestic abuse victims and people feeling suicidal from the effect of weeks in lockdown.

The small team of volunteers who work from the Samaritans office in Nunnery Lane had expected to be busy as the coronavirus tightened its grip, forcing some out of work and leaving many others cooped up at home.

But even so they have been taken aback by the sheer number of calls they are receiving, admitted Samaritan Steve Angle....

 

[GusB]

Missing out on a holiday really isn’t such a bad deal, it’s a kick in the teeth as typically the weather is fine which isn’t a given for U.K. holidays, but I’m finding things to do in my garden instead.

It is a big deal for some. I haven't had a holiday in over two years due to caring for my father, and have had a few very stressful months since both he and my mum passed away. I was really looking forward to having a bit of time away from home once all the dust had settled.

Right now I'm probably just about keeping it together. I do my daily walk and I go to the shop for essentials every few days, but that's the only face to face contact I currently have with anyone. I was already dealing with depression before the Covid situation arose, but I would have expected that with the longer days and better weather I would have seen some improvement. I haven't felt any worse, but I don't feel any better either. Being cooped up at home and not really being able to see the end of this particular tunnel isn't helping.

So yes, missing out on a holiday is a big deal!

 

[yorkie]

The more I read about how awful the next year is potentially going to be, I personally feel that if I had a choice I would rather take my chances with the virus. Not that the choice is available, but it is very difficult for me to accept. As I said before it's more about the impact on so many others that's bothering me. I am struggling to see how the 'cure' is going to be better than the disease for most of us. I fear for many people it could be far worse.

 

[Ianno87]

I do think that philosophy is a little disingenuous, even if it may hold true for many. I should have been away on holiday today for two weeks in Wales, which I’d been looking forward to since last summer. It’s not the end of the world, I’m simply glad to be here, seemingly healthy, along with the rest of my family, in a rock-solid secure job, and in one of the nicest countries in the world.

Missing out on a holiday really isn’t such a bad deal, it’s a kick in the teeth as typically the weather is fine which isn’t a given for U.K. holidays, but I’m finding things to do in my garden instead.

I do think it would help people if they focus on the many good things they have, rather than becoming angry about the few things which, for once, they can’t do.

I'm lucky to have a great job.

I'm lucky to have amazing, happy, healthy kids to look after.

But trying to do both at the same time for weeks on end (with zero light at the end of the tunnel) and doing neither nearly as well as I'd like to be able to is hard, to part it mildly.

A long night's sleep is about 6 hours at the moment to get all the hours I need in. Not healthy or sustainable.

 

[Huntergreed]

I sadly feel that many lives will be lost to mental health over the next year. From what I’ve read, it’s going to be a very restrictive year with little if anything interesting to do other than sit in the house or work. My fear is that the government will simply just emphasise the importance of suppressing the virus until, and even if, a vaccine is around and that will, I fear, cost thousands of lives through mental health problems that were overlooked instead of the complete suppression of the virus.

 

[yorkie]

I sadly feel that many lives will be lost to mental health over the next year. From what I’ve read, it’s going to be a very restrictive year with little if anything interesting to do other than sit in the house or work. My fear is that the government will simply just emphasise the importance of suppressing the virus until, and even if, a vaccine is around and that will, I fear, cost thousands of lives through mental health problems that were overlooked instead of the complete suppression of the virus.

Yes this is my fear too.

 

[Mojo]

I wonder if another part of the mental health issue is the fear that we, and our loved ones, are going to die from this, whereas the reality is that for most people, your liklihood of ending up in hospital is extremely slim; although I do accept that the number of hospital admissions who die is high.

Whilst the scientists say that the best way of determining death numbers because of the pandemic is to compare the expected deaths based on trends with the actual deaths; I fear this will massively overstate the number of actual deaths because of Covid-19, as it will include cases brought on by the global and national response to the disease such as suicides, coronary issues and cancer, as well as include the numbers of deaths because of late medical intervention, undiagnosed cancers, etc.

 

[Esker-pades]

Coronavirus-Related Suicides Surface Amid Increased Anxiety

People's mental health is suffering around the world because of COVID-19.

newsone.com

Los Angeles is one place that witnessed an increase in suicide crisis hotline calls according to DailyMail.com. Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Crisis Line has received more than 1,500 calls about the coronavirus in March, which is 75 times more than the previous month. Didi Hirsch operates one of the largest suicide line call centers in the United States and they warned that the number of calls would grow exponentially over the next couple of weeks as people confront the realities of lost loved ones and lost jobs.

The group told DailyMail.com that the top concerns among callers have been anxiety, stress, fear of eviction, inability to pay utilities, unemployment, health concerns and losing loved ones to the virus.

“We’ve taken over 1,500 calls already in March just specifically related to the coronavirus and I do believe that will continue to increase,” said Lyn Morris, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. “Our history with things like this, like in the 2008 recession, the first couple of weeks it’s a little hard to gauge call volume because everybody’s in shock, taking care of their basic needs first. Then the weeks after are usually when we start to see the call volume really increase. Two weeks from now, we’re probably going to see a big increase as the fear, the anxiety builds, and as the death toll from coronavirus rises we would expect that.”

 

[RichT54]

Well my mental health has certainly taken a turn for the worse since reading the last few posts in this thread

 

[takno]

I wonder if another part of the mental health issue is the fear that we, and our loved ones, are going to die from this, whereas the reality is that for most people, your liklihood of ending up in hospital is extremely slim; although I do accept that the number of hospital admissions who die is high.

Whilst the scientists say that the best way of determining death numbers because of the pandemic is to compare the expected deaths based on trends with the actual deaths; I fear this will massively overstate the number of actual deaths because of Covid-19, as it will include cases brought on by the global and national response to the disease such as suicides, coronary issues and cancer, as well as include the numbers of deaths because of late medical intervention, undiagnosed cancers, etc.

Agree absolutely, and it's a real risk in the short term as people just look at the raw figures and draw comparisons. In the longer term there are methodologies to figure these things out, although of course like everything else, they are based on flu and won't necessarily carry over.

 

[greyman42]

The more I read about how awful the next year is potentially going to be, I personally feel that if I had a choice I would rather take my chances with the virus. Not that the choice is available, but it is very difficult for me to accept. As I said before it's more about the impact on so many others that's bothering me. I am struggling to see how the 'cure' is going to be better than the disease for most of us. I fear for many people it could be far worse.

You speak for a lot of people, of all ages.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I'm sorry to add to the list on here but anyone who's familiar with my posts on here regarding my 5-night trip to Edinburgh on April 16th will probably guess exactly how it's made me feel having to wait longer. Note this is the second time I've cancelled my first trip to Scotland.

I'm well aware of far worse case scenarios currently, but with my mental health issues I unfortunately find it difficult to appreciate other people's current worse issues at times.

It's actually the closure of Edinburgh Castle and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum (KAGM) in Glasgow that's (to put it bluntly) done it - Edinburgh Castle is I think the one key part of Edinburgh to visit. The KAGM is where the very last UK Deal or No Deal was broadcast on December 23rd 2016.

Undoing the whole trip and having to replan it a 3rd time is like wripping up pieces of paper you've neatly laid out on the table that's taken time and energy to plan.

I hope people on here who've had issues manage to enjoy the best of this bad situation .

Sorry if this is a little off topic (I know it's a trip) but whilst we're on the mental health subject, I thought I'd mention it given what others have said on here.

If this is in the wrong thread then please move it if need be.

I (and so many others) just really wish this lockdown will end soon.

Also reported on Twitter like a few days ago, somebody's disabled (I think teenage) daughter can't cope with the lockdown put it that way. I'm not physically disabled but I do have autism and asperger's plus a 2 other things that aren't a disability.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Mum's plea after son takes his own life under lockdown

Mum has sent out heartfelt message

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

It is very relevant. This, from the brief account given in the article, perfectly normal young man apparently couldn't manage the lockdown conditions any further, in his university town away from home, and in a very sad turn of events took his own life on Monday, I believe having been struck by one of our trains.

It's worth remembering that the human mind is not a simple thing and while my social media is full of angry people banging tables ranting about staying at home, not everyone seems able to cope with that.

I've had some horrible black days of late but happily I've got my partner, friends and famlly around me to lift my mood. Others don't have that support network around them, as I believe @yorkie has been at pains to point out - there will be a human cost to this course of action as well as an economic one and sadly a second body count to reflect upon when we try and recover.

I feel for that family, reading this. I hope they get the full love and support they need!

 

[scotrail158713]

I'm sorry to add to the list on here but anyone who's familiar with my posts on here regarding my 5-night trip to Edinburgh on April 16th will probably guess exactly how it's made me feel having to wait longer. Note this is the second time I've cancelled my first trip to Scotland.

I'm well aware of far worse case scenarios currently, but with my mental health issues I unfortunately find it difficult to appreciate other people's current worse issues at times.

It's actually the closure of Edinburgh Castle and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum (KAGM) in Glasgow that's (to put it bluntly) done it - Edinburgh Castle is I think the one key part of Edinburgh to visit. The KAGM is where the very last UK Deal or No Deal was broadcast on December 23rd 2016.

Undoing the whole trip and having to replan it a 3rd time is like wripping up pieces of paper you've neatly laid out on the table that's taken time and energy to plan.

I hope people on here who've had issues manage to enjoy the best of this bad situation .

Sorry if this is a little off topic (I know it's a trip) but whilst we're on the mental health subject, I thought I'd mention it given what others have said on here.

If this is in the wrong thread then please move it if need be.

I (and so many others) just really wish this lockdown will end soon.

Also reported on Twitter like a few days ago, somebody's disabled (I think teenage) daughter can't cope with the lockdown put it that way. I'm not physically disabled but I do have autism and asperger's plus a 2 other things that aren't a disability.

I realise that must be infuriating for you. However, to try and see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you do finally get to Edinburgh I can guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself - it is a wonderful city. (Despite my disliking at times - although I think anyone who lives in and around here feels that at times, especially in August )

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I realise that must be infuriating for you. However, to try and see the light at the end of the tunnel, when you do finally get to Edinburgh I can guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself - it is a wonderful city. (Despite my disliking at times - although I think anyone who lives in and around here feels that at times, especially in August )

D'you know what - that reply has made me feel less anxious in seconds. Thanks !