'Second Pandemic' Warning Issued As Mental Health Crises Rise
Mental health charity Mind has warned of a ‘second, mental health pandemic’ if nothing is urgently done to support people mentally during the coronavirus pandemic.
Data on new urgent referrals to crisis care teams – mental health professionals who give support out of hospital – found referrals in England rose from 17,733 in March 2020 up to 20,028 in June and 20,540 in July.
New emergency referrals also shot up from 6,281 in March to 7,632 and 7,481 in June and July respectively. In 2019 by comparison, there were 5,191 emergency referrals in March, and 5,273 and 6,358 referrals in June and July.
Referral figures in June and July 2020 were higher than ever previously recorded, Mind said. The charity also received up to 500 calls a day to its helpline in October, twice the usual number for this time of year.
Mind said urgent investment must be made to support community services into the winter to prevent people from reaching crisis point.
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Multiple studies have found the pandemic has had a negative impact on mental health across the board. One study published in The Lancet found significant increases in mental distress among 18-24-year-olds, 25-34-year-olds, women, and people living with young children.
A separate survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which looked at levels of depression in adults found one in eight adults (12.9%) developed moderate to severe depressive symptoms during the pandemic.
Adults who were aged 16 to 39 years old, female, unable to afford an unexpected expense, or disabled were the most impacted.
The latest data suggests the nation is in the grip of a mental health emergency, said Mind, which is further underpinned by the spike in calls to its helpline.
The charity wants the government to invest in urgent community services and...
