Lockdown mental health tips from Fareham dad and mental health specialist

A Public Health England survey showing that two thirds of adults in the UK have struggled during lockdown, has come as no surprise to Fareham resident Ian Hurst, who has battled with his own mental health for eight years and now helps others in similar situations.

The survey showed that:

• Half of adults (48%), say they are more worried during the current lockdown than last March, and nearly two thirds (64%) of those say the outbreak has already had a negative impact on their mental health.
• Of those surveyed, nearly half (46%) said they had been experiencing more anxiety, stress (44%), sleep problems (34%) and low mood (46%) over the course of the pandemic.
• The most common reasons people thought the lockdown had negatively impacted their mental health were missing friends and family (56%); uncertainty about the future (53%); and worried about family’s safety and health (53%)
• However three-quarters (75%) of the nation are planning to take or have already taken steps to help look after their mental wellbeing.

PHE has launched a nationwide Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign to support people to take action to look after their mental health and wellbeing. The campaign encourages people to get a free NHS-approved Mind Plan from the Every Mind Matters website.

Father of two Ian Hurst, who first sought help for his mental health eight years ago, has found lockdown challenging.

Ian, 38, said: “There is definitely a different feel now compared to the first lockdown. Back then, there was a real feeling of camaraderie - you’d go on a walk and people would say ‘hello’, whereas now, they have their heads down and seem a lot more scared and confused.”

Ian has learned to manage his mental wellbeing over the years using different methods, but when he decided to take some time off work over Christmas, his mental health quickly deteriorated.

He said: “By day three I was really on my knees. I hadn’t spoken to anyone or been outside for exercise and I was in a bad place. I was suffering terrible guilt because I was able to carry on working, but my wife, unable to work, is home-schooling our children and under immense pressure. Everyone thought if they’d get to the end of 2020 and this year would be better, but many are struggling because the future remains uncertain.”

Ian used to work for mental health charity Time to Change and now runs his own not for profit organisation ‘We Are Hummingbird’, with his two partners Karl Draper-Firth and John Logue. They help individuals and organisations with mental health support and he also trains people to be mental health first aiders. He found that concentrating on five key principles of wellbeing have helped to see him through the lockdowns: connecting with people, being active, taking more notice of things, continuing to learn and also giving to others wherever possible.

He explained: “Everyone thinks there is a magic fix to mental health, and you’ll see a shining light and everything will be ok, but it really is about focusing on the small things each day that gets you through. As soon as I went back to basics and brought back these five simple things, I started to feel better. They can be really simple, such as a phone or video call with friends, walking the dog, learning a new game on the iPad and giving a bit of time to help others.”

As well as the personal impact on Ian, he has seen many more people coming to him for professional support.

He added: “It is good that people are getting help, which is why I’m supporting the Every Mind Matter’s campaign and would urge everyone to take a look at the website and try out some of the tools the campaign is promoting.”

Angela Baker, Deputy Director for Health and Wellbeing at PHE South East said:

“While the experience of the pandemic has been different for everyone, there's no doubt it has caused unprecedented challenges, and, not surprisingly, many of us are now experiencing poorer mental wellbeing.

“Feeling stress, anxiety and worry are very natural feelings in the face of the Covid outbreak, and looking after our mental wellbeing has never been more important. The good news is that our Every Mind Matters Covid resources have lots of excellent practical tips and advice, and I’d encourage you to join me and get an NHS Mind Plan, which will give you simple steps to help you navigate these challenging times.”

Helen Atkinson, Director of Public Health at Portsmouth City Council, said:

"We recognise that this can be an extremely anxious time for people. The frequently changing situation we're all facing during this pandemic and the restrictions in place, which are crucial to reduce the spread of the virus, can create additional fears and stresses. The important thing to recognise if you're feeling this way is that you're not alone and that support is available. Whether it's opening up to a friend, using expert advice and guidance found online, or contacting one of the local or national support organisations that exist.

"I would encourage everyone to be kind to themselves and find ways that they can look after their mental health. Check in with friends and family, even if that has to be remotely at the moment, and if you're struggling to cope, reach out and ask for help."

NHS mental health services have been open throughout the pandemic and continue to stay open during this lockdown. Speak to your GP for a referral, or you can self-refer via nhs.uk/talk. NHS mental health staff can provide care via phone or online from the comfort of your home. Face to face appointments can also be arranged in many areas. These services are a free and confidential way to get effective help.

If you or a loved one face a mental health crisis, you can find your local NHS 24/7 helpline on nhs.uk/urgentmentalhealth.

Ends