Lockdown mental health tips from Windsor dad

LOCKDOWN MENTAL HEALTH TIPS FROM WINDSOR DAD

A new Public Health England survey showing two thirds of adults in the UK have struggled during lockdown has come as no surprise to Windsor dad David Bulbeck, who has battled with his own mental health for 25 years.

But David, 57, who is supporting PHE’s newly launched Every Mind Matter’s campaign, has plenty of tips to help others and wants people to know that there is lots of help available for anyone struggling like he has in the past.

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 the 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 for themselves and their families.

The campaign is supported by a coalition of leading mental health charities, including Mind, Samaritans, Young Minds and Rethink.

David, who first sought help for mental health problems in 1995 when he was 31, said he found being honest has led to others feeling able to open up to him and share their experiences. He also said that maintaining a routine during lockdown, being frank with those you are locked down with, and getting out for exercise as often as possible had been particularly important.

He added: “It’s also really important to make sure you have a variety of interests because if one is suddenly banned you have other stuff you can draw on.

“Cycling, walking and photography are often mentioned and have been regular “crutches” for me but another thing I would like to mention is that there is an increasing number of online resources for learning.

“My preference is for one called FutureLearn which has the Open University behind it – there are lots of courses to choose from and I’ve completed 60 over the last four years, all free of charge. There’s even one on Covid-19 which helped me to understand what the virus actually is and the real risks rather than the inflated click-bait which is so often seen online!”

Since his initial experience of low mood when he was in his thirties, David has had other episodes but has learned to control his mental health with the help of various forms of therapy including CBT, mindfulness, and talking therapy. Thanks to his extensive experience he has found he has plenty of tools to fall back on to help him through lockdown. But he also has plenty of sympathy for others who are struggling: “It’s very easy to do nothing, not to go out and allow a massive level of anxiety to build up around "outside" and the thought that the virus is everywhere, lurking behind every lamppost etc,” he said.

“That’s 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.

“I’d also encourage everyone to keep an eye out for friends, relatives and colleagues and trying to stay aware of any behavioural changes that we might pick up remotely while we are all socially distanced

“I know these are tough times for everyone but don’t feel that there isn’t any help out there. Remember – every mind matters!”

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 get a free NHS Mind Plan, which will give you simple steps to help you navigate these challenging times.”

For those who are struggling with anxiety or depression, NHS talking therapies are here to 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.