Lockdown mental health a ‘priority’
Dancer raises the barre for lockdown exercise...
HSE concern over general disorders and home violence
THE HSE has said that it is a priority to reach people suffering from lockdown-related mental health difficulties.
As movement restrictions continue, the health service has said it is worried about the consequences of the upheaval for people’s mental health, adding that reaching out to those struggling is a ‘priority’.
Chief operations officer with the HSE, Anne O’Connor said yesterday that there has also been concern over the potential increase in domestic violence cases, adding that the health service is working with service providers in the area.
‘We are concerned, in general in terms, of the impact of this pandemic on mental health in general, whether it’s to do with people with eating disorders or people who would suffer in other ways from mental health challenges. For us, the priority is to try to reach out to people,’ she said.
Ms O’Connor added that telehealth – which allows health services to be provided through a digital platform – is playing a key role in allowing mental health services to continue.
‘For us, it’s absolutely essential that we continue to support people in whatever way we can. With mental health, it does lend itself to telehealth quite well in some respects and the provision of supports.’
Support groups have reported an increase in the number of people contacting them as they struggle to deal with restrictions.
Alone, which supports elderly people, revealed that calls to its helpline have soared by almost 850% since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted.
The group’s CEO, Sean Moynihan, said the elderly ‘have struggled with cocooning restrictions for well over a month and their lives have been irreversibly impacted by this’.
Alone has warned that Covid19 cocooning measures will have long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of older people across the country.
From March 25 until May 5, people aged over 70 were cocooned in 24-hour lockdown at home, before being allowed out for a brief period of exercise.
The group is concerned the measures are causing a ‘health gap’ among older people, and fear this will have a negative impact on their physical health.
It also previously reported a rise in the number of calls it is receiving in relation to suicidal ideation.
Meanwhile, gardaí last month reported a 20% increase in domestic abuse calls as a result of people being confined to their homes.
Cocooning causing a ‘health gap’