What about mental health?

The statistics

A recent survey by the Office of National Statistics reports the following:

• The proportion of adults who reported high anxiety increased this week (37%) compared with last week (36%).
• Over one in five adults (21%) said their relationships were being affected, with partners or spouses causing the most concern.
• The proportion of adults who said their well-being was affected increased this week (48%) compared with last week (46%). The proportion remained higher for those with an underlying health condition, at 51%, and lower for those aged 70 years and over, at 39%.*
• Among those who say COVID-19 has affected their well-being this week, one in four (25%) said they were concerned about the strain on their relationships, just over one in five (22%) said they were spending too much time with others in their household, but just under one in three (30%) said they were spending too much time alone. These proportions have been very similar over the past four weeks.

*“This week” refers to the period 17 April to 27 April 2020

Before the pandemic, it was reported that approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, if the figures above are accurate then we must be prepared for this number to rise.

What can you do to support your own mental health?

There are many articles and research to support good mental health and it is more important than ever to develop strategies and routines to support yourself. We have populated our blog with information and resources for you. Some ideas:

• Talk about your feelings – particularly if you have low mood, to a trusted person. We often find it hard to talk about our problems but it feels good to have someone who listens to you. If you don’t feel you can speak to a family member or relative then there are several numbers dedicated to help those who need to talk. You can find some of them here.
• Exercise – you don’t have to jump up and try and run a marathon today, you don’t even have to go outside for exercise (although getting outside is definitely recommended if you can). Exercise releases chemicals that make you feel good so a brisk walk around the block, doing the housework or accessing a yoga or a dance video online can help you feel better when you are feeling low.
• Listen to your favourite song. Dance about or sing out loud!
• Make good eating choices – it’s easy to make bad choices when are isolated or stuck indoors. Try to eat a healthy balanced diet and stick to three meals a day and drink plenty of water. Try to limit caffeine, sugary drinks and avoid too much alcohol.
• Keep in touch with friends and family – with so many people embracing technology at this time it’s easier to speak to friends and family through FaceTime, WhatsApp, through text or a phone call. If you don’t have access to the internet, consider calling a relative or even writing a letter to send some positivity to others. It can be hard to cope when someone close to you dies – Counselling or bereavement support may be worth considering if you are struggling.
• Take some ‘me’ time – with statistics showing that 21% of people saying that their relationships are being affected, it may be a good idea to take some time for yourself. Sit in a room or outside to read a book, go for a small walk on your own, or try your hand at a new craft to keep your mind busy and spend some time looking after you.