Covid-19 pandemic likely have ‘profound’ effect on mental health

Posted: April 19th 2021

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Our good friend Jim Hume of Support in Minds Scotland has been talking about the rural characteristics of this for some time. This story from Northern Ireland but which is more generally applicable tells us:

Mental health problems associated with the Covid-19 pandemic are "likely to be profound and felt for many years".

That is according to a newly-published research paper on suicide from the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It said there was "emerging" evidence the mental health of younger people in particular had been "disproportionately affected".

The paper warned, though, conflating declining mental health with suicide and suicide risk should be avoided.

It said to do so could increase the risk of normalising suicidal behaviour.

The paper, produced by the assembly's research and information service, said the "increased mental health burden associated with the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to be profound and felt for many years".

"Restrictive measures put in place during the pandemic coupled with, for example, loneliness, job and income loss, bereavement, and the direct or indirect impacts of Covid-19 has led to increased levels of anxiety and had a negative effect on many people's mental health," it said.

"The pandemic has also been shown to affect subsections of the population differently, for example, front-line workers, those hospitalised by Covid or suffering post-infection, and those with fewer social or economic resources.

"There is also evidence emerging that the mental health of younger people in particular has been disproportionately affected."