Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Third of calls to Samaritans linked to virus pandemic
Fears for people’s mental health in lockdown
Experts warn the coronavirus lockdown is exacerbating problems with mental health - with Samaritans in Kent reporting one in three calls are linked to the crisis.
As Mental Health Awareness Week is marked across the country, people are being urged to seek support if they are struggling.
Earlier this month, 17-year-old Matthew Mackell took his own life in a park in Tunbridge Wells. It was only when his phone logs were checked that his father, Michael Bond, learned he had been suicidal for months. “We would have never expected this from him, ever,” he said.
“He had so many friends at school. I wish he could have talked to me or one of them.” Also urging people to seek help is River Thompson, from Margate, who at the age of 19 attempted to take his own life. The 21-year-old, who runs a Youtube channel offering support, fears the toll the Covid-19 pandemic is taking on mental health could be as deadly as the virus itself.
“Some people will be on their own and loneliness is a big killer, but this is not just affecting people who are lonely,” he said.
“It’s people who have been furloughed, those who have lost their jobs, or struggling not seeing their loved ones and not being able to just talk. “The scariest place in the world for some people is their own mind. If they can’t escape that at the moment it might cost them their lives.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to speak to someone.”
Marcus Whiteley, director of Samaritans for Maidstone and the Weald, says volunteers manning the charity’s phone lines have experienced a surge in calls since the lockdown began. “Currently, one in three calls for help to Samaritans are about coronavirus and we are continuing to hear about struggles with mental health, access to services as well as the impact on basic needs such as food, housing and employment,” he said. “What the lockdown has done is it has exacerbated some of the issues people already have. And some of the resources and support mechanisms people would usually go to are no longer there, because of distancing and isolation.”
But Mr Whiteley stresses that Samaritans is available for anyone who needs a listening ear. “We provide a completely non-judgemental forum,” he said. “Anyone in need of talking to someone - whether it’s for mental health, or people who are very very isolated and lonely - we’re here for whoever that caller may be.”
In a candid video posted ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, Dr David Palmer, CEO of mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent Mind, spoke of his personal struggles since the pandemic began. Dr Palmer was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, after he was repeatedly stabbed while trying to protect a friend from being attacked. “Lockdown has been a challenge,” he said. “I’ve had some fine days like everybody else, but I’ve also had some very challenging and dark days. “For me, my coping mechanism has been music. I’ve also found talking to others very helpful.
“If you’re struggling, speak to those close to you, or contact us.”
Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group is funding specialist phone lines and mental health drop-in centres during the pandemic. “Safe havens” will be available for face-to-face help in Canterbury, Folkestone, Medway, Maidstone and Thanet once it is deemed safe. Until then, those over the age of 16 can access telephone support at www.mhm. org.uk/kent-safe-havens. Call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.
‘The scariest place in the world for some people is their own mind. If they can’t escape that at the moment it might cost them their lives’