Trauma will last 5 years, fear experts
MORE than half of therapists believe Covid-19 will continue to have an impact on people’s mental health for up to five years.
A further third fear the impact could last far longer, and nearly half of the professional counsellors said they had felt more stressed and overwhelmed since the start of the pandemic.
And 80 per cent said the increased demand for therapy had left their service either full or over capacity.
Yougov carried out a survey of nearly 5,000 therapists for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Mindometer report.
It found 93 per cent of UK therapists have noticed an increased mental strain in the general population.
The three most commonly presented problems are anxiety, stress or feeling overwhelmed, and loneliness or social isolation. Counsellors have noted a shift in the presented problems, including people suffering mental health issues for the first time. Forty-six per cent of therapists say incidences of trauma have gone up, while 26 per cent have seen a rise in eating disorders. They have also seen increases in relationship pressures and breakdowns; addictive behaviours and substance misuse; obsessive compulsive disorder, and addiction to the internet.
Ellentownsend, a professor of psychology at University of Nottingham, said: “Unfortunately these findings, whilst devastating, will not be a surprise to those working in mental health.
“From the outset many experts warned about the impact of mandatory restrictions including lockdowns but the Government has simply ignored any health condition that is not Covid-19.
“The impact of this neglect will be felt for years to come.”