Impact of the pandemic will be felt for many years to come

Wales is just weeks away from lifting nearly all Covid-19 restrictions. But Dr Joshua Payne, chair of British Psychological Society’s Welsh branch, explains why the mental effects of Covid-19 will be felt long after the virus has waned

WITH the announcement from the Welsh Government that most Covid restrictions will be lifted in Wales from August 7, the First Minister has struck an optimistic yet cautious tone.

It certainly wasn’t the announcement of a “freedom day”, which will come as a relief to many, but a disappointment and frustration for some.

With this in mind, it is more important than ever that we hold on to the community spirit and feeling of collective responsibility which has served us so well throughout the pandemic.

The memories of that warm spring last year, when people gathered on doorsteps to clap key workers, dropped notes through neighbours’ doors to check they were okay, picked up shopping and delivered essentials for vulnerable people, and rainbows appeared in windows and chalked on pavements, now feels distant.

The feeling that we are all in this together has faded, and while the vaccine rollout offers a very real hope of a return to some kind of normality, and has enabled the government to begin to lift restrictions, it is crucial that we hold on to that feeling of community and togetherness and not just throw the responsibility on to the individual.

Collective responsibility has been one of our greatest strengths in getting through this pandemic. The maintaining of mandatory maskwearing on public transport and in certain indoor settings sends an important message – this pandemic is not yet over, and the virus is still a threat.

The approach from the Welsh Government sends a strong message to those who are vulnerable that we care about them, and they matter.

Within psychology, we know that for people to understand and adhere to guidance, messaging needs to be clear.

People need to know what is going on, what the current situation is, and

‘The feeling that we are all in this together has faded...’

the reasons behind why certain decisions are made. By being open and honest and straightforward with the public, there is far more chance that people remain committed to keeping themselves and others safe.

It’s important to remember that people are emerging from this pandemic in different places.

For many, the restrictions enforced during the pandemic have had a negative impact on their mental and physical health, and the effects will be felt for some time to come.

Poverty remains a serious concern, frontline medical and mental health support services are suffering from a substantial backlog following pandemic restrictions, and many people have put off seeking medical advice that would require urgent referral. Of course many have lost loved ones without the ability to attend their bedsides or funeral services.

There will be people who have long abandoned the masks and will rejoice on August 7 that “it is all over”.

Many will go running into a nightclub the night they open, arms aloft and feeling complete joy and ecstasy.

However, there will be others who will be nervous and reluctant to go on a busy train, or mix in large groups, and decide never to go to a nightclub again (for some of us, that decision was made way before the pandemic!).

What is important is not that one of these approaches is right and one wrong, but they reflect different people’s situations and we must be understanding and empathetic.

These shockwaves from the pandemic will continue to spread throughout society and be felt for years to come. We often hear organisations calling for more money and resources to deal with the impact of the pandemic, but unfortunately these asks are not new.

Services were stretched before the pandemic.

All that has happened is that Covid has exposed and exacerbated faultlines within our society.

We cannot paper over these cracks.

We need to look beyond the short term, with concrete steps that aim to combat the broader impacts of the pandemic on people’s day-to-day lives.

We need to ensure the services are there to support people when they need them most, so we can all look towards a brighter future.