‘Mental health of everyone affected by virus’

THE mental health of everyone in the country has been affected by the coronavirus, a consultant psychiatrist has said, as the HSE urged people to get help if they need it.

Speaking yesterday during a health briefing, consultant psychiatrist and clinical professor at UCD Philip Dodd said that the challenges of the pandemic, as well as the restrictions, have impacted ‘in a variety of ways on the mental health of everyone in the country’.

‘Some have become sick, others are worried about becoming unwell. Some of us have lost loved ones to coronavirus and others might feel the strain of how life has become much restricted in various ways,’ he said.

Prof. Dodd also outlined some of the measures introduced to help people who feel that they may be experiencing any problems in recent weeks.

Online, text and phone therapeutic help have been fast-tracked and many people have turned to them for the first time.

‘We are now coordinating a psychosocial response project to address the overall Covid-19 emergency and its impact on our mental health and wellbeing,’ he said.

The psychosocial approach to mental health looks at the relationship between a person’s mind and their environment; that may be their family relationships, their neighbourhood or, in this case, the huge changes around them brought on by the coronavirus and the lockdown.

HSE CEO Paul Reid said the organisation is ‘very conscious’ of mental health implications of the current situation.

‘We want to ensure that we are providing the right support,’ he said. ‘I would encourage the public to use those supports... we are there to support you.’