Since Prime Minister Borris Johnson announced the lockdown, self isolation has taken a whole new meaning.
As people are being kept away from their friends and family, being stuck inside, it makes one wonder, how is this affecting peoples mental health?
A recent study “found that 25 per cent of women and 18 per cent of men exhibited clinically meaningful symptoms of anxiety, 23 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men showed signs of depression, and 15 per cent of women and 19 per cent of men were stressed. These results are elevated compared to those of similar surveys from before the coronavirus crisis, such as the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (in which 15.7 per cent reported common psychiatric disorders), but not dramatically so”.
It is a commonly known fact, that going outside and going for walks, keeping the mind occupied can influences someones mood and mental state. Zoe Ridgway (20) said: “Where I totally understand the new rules, being inside all the time really bothers me. I like to keep myself occupied by going outside and keeping active, but I feel miserable indoors and just want to go back to normality. I am lucky that with modern technology I am able to FaceTime my friends and family as that helps a lot”. An issue many people are facing, is not being able to see and have contact with the elderly members of the family. Being told you can’t hug a close family member can affecting ones mental health.
The rules are as follows:
- Keep social distancing with a 2 metre gap.
- You are allowed to leave the house for one form of exercise per day.
- You should not make any unnecessary trips out.
- You are not allowed to go from household to household.
- Public transport is limited.
Social distancing scale.
During this hard time, we all must stick together and reach out to one another. Check in on your family and friends in any way you can.
Help Lines:
- Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition. Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
- Samaritans. Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline) Website: www.samaritans.org.uk