Mental health during Covid-19 lockdown

There are signs that mental health issues may have risen in the population during 2020, particularly among young people.

With changing restrictions governing our lives, many people are concerned about the impact on mental health.

So, what can help us during these uncertain times?

Your feelings are normal!

Firstly, it is important to acknowledge that it’s normal to experience anxiety and low mood during these unprecedented times. When the future is as uncertain as it is now, we may worry more, trying to predict what might happen next and living in the moment less. This can be particularly difficult if we are anxious about things which are outside our control. 

High levels of uncertainty, combined with isolation from friends and family, may result in changes which feel overwhelming. This may include difficulties sleeping, eating more or less than normal, or finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions.

woman wearing face mask walking in city

Same storm, different boats

Although the Covid-19 pandemic is the same ‘storm’ for everyone, we are not all in the same ‘boat’. Experiences of the pandemic vary considerably, with some people facing greater challenges than others in getting through the storm. For example, you may have serious concerns about finances, employment, study, your own health or that of friends and family members.

With further national restrictions on top of those many people have been under since July, these worries may have increased, particularly as we move into the winter months.

Help is available

If you are concerned that you, or someone else, may be developing mental health difficulties and require support beyond the self-help strategies outlined above, help is available. During the first lockdown, it was reported that one in three adults and more than one in four young people did not attempt to access support because they did not think that their problem was serious enough, and there was a fall in referrals to NHS talking therapies and children and adolescent mental health services. Services remain open and support is being offered online. Please see the following link for more details, or speak to your GP:

Please use the NHS website to find a service, or speak to your GP.

Get support for your mental health condition

For people with pre-existing mental health conditions, please reach out and try to get as much support as possible. This can be via your GP and statutory services, and support is also available from national organisations; details can be found here

Find details of support available

Get help in a crisis

Finally, if you, or someone else, is in crisis and thinking about suicide, please get help immediately.

More information on help available can be found here:

NHS: Help for suicidal thoughts

HelpGuide: Are you feeling suicidal?