The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has been devastating for many people’s mental health and leading mental health professionals are warning that the worst could be yet to come.

Mental health charity ‘Mind’ found that most adults with a pre-existing mental health problem said their mental health had become worse during lockdown. More than a fifth of adults with no previous experience of mental health problems before lockdown say that their mental health is now poor.

Other research has also revealed the impact that the pandemic has had on young people’s mental health, indicating that 80 per cent of teenagers and young adults believe the pandemic has made their mental health worse.

During lockdown, head of policy for Mind Cymru, Simon Jones, said people were struggling to get hold of local services for advice and support, while others were worried about seeking help in case they caught the virus.

Worryingly, here in North Wales, at the height of the pandemic, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board wrongly discharged 1,700 patients from mental health support services.

Dr Bob Colgate, a consultant psychiatrist at Bridgend's Princess of Wales Hospital, recently warned that people who did not access mental health support during lockdown could now be overwhelmed by "layered" issues.

Just as lockdown has been difficult for many people, the lifting of lockdown measures is also affecting people’s mental health. For many, the gradual easing of lockdown brings longed-for opportunities to see friends and family, play sports, to eat out and socialise, albeit at a safe distance,  but for others it is a real worry.

Some people may feel stressed and unprepared for the changes that are happening. They may feel anxious, afraid or panicked that the changes may cause an increase in infections. They may be worried that a loved one may now be put at risk when they weren’t before.  They may just be generally scared and reluctant to re-emerge from their safe haven.

In fact the end of lockdown might be as hard for some as the start was, and this is something we all need to be mindful of so that we can each play a part in helping those that may be finding it tough.  

As the Mental Health Foundation advise: “Because our situations are unique to us, it is really important to try not to judge ourselves harshly based on what other people are doing. Everybody is facing uncertainty and challenge – and we have no choice but to move through it as best we can.”  

There in no doubt that the Coronavirus crisis has had, and is still having, a huge impact on people's wellbeing and it's clear a post-Covid mental health plan is now urgently required so that services and access to support can be guaranteed wherever you live in Wales.

In the meantime, there are many amazing charities and organisation out there ready to offer advice and support to those who are struggling and I would urge anyone who is finding it difficult to seek help.

The Mental Health Foundation is part of the national mental health response during the coronavirus outbreak and provides a wealth of advice at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus

Mental health charity Mind also provides detailed guidance on dealing with the pandemic at  https://www.mind.org.uk/coronavirus-we-are-here-for-you/