Mental health call must be answered

COVID-19 infection measurement is as exact as it is stark.

Daily we get the grim figures for infections and deaths caused by coronavirus, but what is harder to measure is the toll the pandemic has had on mental health.

What few pointers we have, however, suggests the situation may well be graver than we could imagine.

Recent reports have revealed that antidepressant use is at an all time high, with more than six million people prescribed with antidepressants in the three months leading up to September.

But there is also anecdotal evidence of people with problems not accessing help as the virus gripped the nation. Referrals to Sunderland Psychological Wellbeing

Service falling by 53% in April 2020 compared to April 2019.

With so many people facing unprecedented upheaval, uncertainty and enforced isolation, it is clear that mental health problems are growing.

Which is why we are backing calls made today for people to seek help and highlighting the most important message from health experts. That being: ‘Help is here’.

As Dr Saira Malik tells us today: “Yes, the service is being run a little differently, with a lot being done online and over the phone, but these services can still help you if you need it, so please don’t put off.

"Get help before it gets worse.”

The message for anyone suffering from mental health problems is simple: Help is available to all, please seek it out.