How pandemic took toll on our reserves of hope

MORE Scots than ever have felt hopeless during the pandemic, amid fears of a mental health crisis.

Statistics from Mental Health Foundation Scotland give an insight into the toll of the pandemic a year after it began.

A year ago, 15 per cent of Scottish adults said they had felt hopeless about the pandemic over the previous fortnight, but by February 2021 this had risen to 20 per cent.

Numbers of people reporting feelings of loneliness jumped from 11 per cent of those surveyed in March 2020 to 29 per cent in February 2021 across the adult population.

Among young adults the figures doubled, with half of those surveyed saying they felt isolated, compared to 26 per cent in March 2020.

Director of Mental Health Foundation Scotland, Lee Knifton, said: ‘What we see is a complex picture. On some measures, Scottish adults are feeling better than in March 2020, with fewer of us feeling anxious about the pandemic.

‘But more of us now feel lonely and hopeless, which is a serious concern given that these are risk factors for mental health problems.

‘While the Scottish Government has addressed the needs of higherrisk social groups in its Transition and Recovery Plan, we now need to see full delivery of that plan to ensure that everyone can recover their mental wellbeing as restrictions are lifted.

‘Post-election, the new Scottish Government needs to go further with a commitment to a wellbeing society that can overcome the root causes of poor mental health.’

The research found that in April 2020, 76 per cent of people felt they were coping well. By February 2021, numbers had fallen to 65 per cent.

Numbers of people experiencing suicidal thoughts rose from 10 per cent in April 2020 to 13 per cent in February 2021 – although no clear evidence has been found to show whether death rates will increase as a result. Young people aged between 18 to 24, including fulltime students, were among those hit hardest by feelings of distress, along with single parents, unemployed people and those with preexisting mental health problems.

Anxiety about the pandemic itself has reduced by a fifth in the past year, with the prospect of vaccination bringing ‘hope’, according to the foundation.

The survey began shortly before lockdown in March 2020, when 1,015 adults were quizzed on their experiences. In February this year 2,039 took part.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Mental health support was already an absolute priority, but we have further responded to the negative impact Covid-19 has had. Our Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan sets out actions to address current and future impacts of the pandemic.

‘Since the start of the pandemic, we have provided support and advice through the Clear Your Head campaign and the NHS24 Mental Health Hub.’

‘More of us now feel lonely’