Survey reveals health impact of lockdown

A SURVEY of more than 2,000 families in Bradford has revealed worsening health for people since lockdown – and how the furlough scheme is enough to tip those on the lowest incomes into further financial difficulties.

As part of the city’s landmark Born in Bradford ( BiB) programme, results revealed a heartbreaking insight into the impact of lockdown on lives.

Results found one in five mothers had clinically significant depression and one in six had clinically significant anxiety with concerns about the mental health of their children also common.

One in three mothers said they were lonely some of the time, and one in 10 said they were lonely most or all of the time. Financial worries were also common, in the results published 10 days ago, after one in 10 said their food didn’t last and they couldn’t afford to buy more, so they were eating less or skipping meals entirely. One in 10 said they had real concerns about being evicted or having their home repossessed and one in three said they were worse off and 37 per cent said they were worried about the job security of the main earner. Dr Josie Dickerson, the acting director for Born in Bradford said the previous furlough scheme covering 80 per cent of eligible businesses wages had put many families, especially those already on minimum wage, in a “worrying” position.

She said: “It is taking away a big chunk of their wages... For people that were just about keeping their heads above water before all this started... suddenly they have been thrown into real financial insecurity and that was a big worry for us”.