Thousands call new helpline for support
Thousands of residents across the county have used a helpline set up to help people hit by the coronavirus crisis.
Kent Together has provided a 24-hour telephone service to ‘shielded’ and vulnerable people since it was launched on April 1. Around 5,000 support requests have been made to the helpline in the last four weeks, with 55% seeking help in acquiring food while 27% have sought help collecting their prescriptions. Others have asked for help in preparing meals and walking their dog.
The service was set up by Kent County Council (KCC) and the county’s 12 district authorities. KCC’s cabinet member for communications, Cllr Shellina Prendergast (Con), said: “We have seen an incredible response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
She said a “huge army” of determined volunteers have come to the aid of vulnerable members of Kent’s community. Her comments came during KCC’s second virtual cabinet meeting last week.
KCC’s cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Sue Chandler (Con), said that some young people are finding the current social isolation measures “particularly challenging” but that others are feeling much happier. She said: “Some young people are also telling us they have never felt more stable and secure, being at home with their families, because of a lot of the pressures that effects young people’s everyday lives are not present for them.”
Cllr Chandler added: “Universities are doing particularly valuable work because students can suffer the stresses of life.”
The community support comes amid growing fears of the impact of the strict social isolation measures implemented by the government, particularly for people’s mental health.
KCC’s cabinet was also presented with a report on the council’s plan around suicide prevention.
Public health director, Andrew Scott-Clark said: “We will need to consider, alongside recovery, the work we need to continue to do to ensure that we support our populations, particularly as know the impacts of social isolation and the coronavirus are quite significant.”
A sample of 119 Kent inquests, from January 2017 to June 2018, identified several common themes, including social isolation, domestic abuse and debt. Middle aged men were also found to be more at risk than other age groups.
Suicide prevention will remain a priority for KCC as it prepares to launch a new five-year strategy, running until 2025, saying there will be a greater focus on self-harm and stronger support for bereaved families.
Contact Kent Together via www.kentgov.uk/kenttogether or call 03000 419292