Dear Supporter
My name is Neil Shah, I have been a Mental Health Professional and Campaigner for almost two decades, having come to this field following a first-hand experience of having a breakdown and reaching a point where I sought the ultimate permanent solution to a temporary problem. This isn’t just my job, it’s my calling in life and as I observed the pandemic response playing out last March I immediately became concerned about a secondary Mental Health Pandemic that would be triggered as a result of the restrictions imposed on us.
Sadly that came to pass which is why when I had the opportunity to join Recovery I volunteered to come on board as a co-founder and to lead our Mental Health Group.
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, the Government's campaign of fear goes into overdrive with its gloomy advertising campaigns and continued miss-information causing a huge impact on Britain's mental health. To counter this propoganda, Recovery is campaigning to end this campaign of fear for the sake of mental health and we have booked poster sites to publicise this.
Researchers worldwide are investigating the causes and impacts of stress, and many fear that the deterioration in mental health could linger long after the pandemic has subsided. Ultimately, scientists hope that they can use the mountains of data being collected in studies about mental health to link the impact of particular control measures to changes in people’s well-being, and to inform the management of future pandemics.
More than 42% of people surveyed by the US Census Bureau in December reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in December, an increase from 11% the previous year. Data from other surveys suggest that the picture is similar worldwide . This is not going to go back to the baseline anytime soon.
A recent study by the non-profit organisation that I run, The Stress Management Society, shows:
65% of Brits are more stressed now than before the pandemic, with feelings of disconnection, uncertainty and a loss of control identified as three major trends contributing to increased stress.
53% admit to feeling more anxious than usual.
43% feel more depressed than usual.
Covid's impact on mental health
The percentage of people experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety has surged amid the pandemic, date from nationally representative surveys show:
UK adults reporting symptoms of depression:
July 2019- March 2020 10% (pre-pandemic)
June 2020 19% (mid-pandemic)
US adults reporting symptoms of depression:
January 2019 - July 2019 11% (pre-pandemic)
December 2020 42% (mid-pandemic)
Source: Office for National Statistics (UK data); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US data).
Fear and isolation
The distress in the pandemic is a result of a double whammy of massively increased stress and anxiety as a result of the fear and uncertainty surrounding current circumstances, coupled with the removal of all of the things that we would typically do to make us feel better – such as exercising, leisure activities, limited social interactions, holidays etc.
Studies and surveys conducted so far in the pandemic consistently show that young people, rather than older people, are most vulnerable to increased psychological distress, perhaps because their need for social interactions are stronger. Data also suggest that young women are more vulnerable than young men, and people with young children, or a previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, are at particularly high risk for mental-health problems. The things that we know predispose people to mental health problems and conditions have been increased as a whole.
This is why the theme for Stress Awareness Month Campaign which starts next month is ‘Regaining Connection, Certainty, Control’ and over the next few weeks we will be pushing to get Mental Health to the top of the agenda. Your continued support and donations are crucial to allow us to keep pushing for positive change.
Recovery is also offering free direct support. Alongside my colleagues Zoe Clews and Felix Economidis, we're running a free online Mental Health Clinic every Thursday evening at 8pm (streaming details: recoveryourspark.org) and my non-profit The Stress Management Society has created lots of stress resources and tools for Stress Awareness Month – find them at www.stress.org.uk/stressawarenessmonth
Best wishes
Neil Shah, Recovery Mental Health Group
