Forcing lockdown on people ‘is a risk to mental health’

THE nation’s mental health will deteriorate more rapidly if authorities try to enforce the lockdown through coercion, a leading psychiatrist has warned.

Sir Simon Wessely said all available evidence showed that people in quarantine suffered “adverse mental health effects” as a consequence.

Sir Simon, chairman of psychiatry at King’s College London and president of the Royal Society of Medicine, described the situation as “uncharted territory” but said the Government was well aware of the concern and had delayed the lockdown as long as possible to mitigate the risk to mental health.

He added: “We don’t know how long we can expect people to tolerate this. The only way to get the population to co-operate is through altruism rather than force. People do better if they feel they are doing it for the benefit of others and don’t feel coerced. It is much more effective than issuing fines.”

Yesterday, charities warned of the danger of a prolonged lockdown on the mental health of children.

Tom Madders, of Youngminds, said: “The measures the Government has put in place are necessary to save lives, and young people we work with support them – but there’s little doubt that the pandemic could have an impact on children’s mental health.”

Yesterday, the Government announced an extra £5million in funding for mental health charities while Public Health England issued new guidance, suggesting people take up a new hobby or set goals to combat anxiety and low mood when stuck at home.

Mind said: “We are facing one of the toughest ever times for our mental well-being as a nation.”