"Things will get better, but we cannot say how and when"

Tuesday 28 April 2020

The impact of sustained lockdown restrictions on people's mental health will be "very difficult to deal with", HSC's Head of Psychology has predicted, given all of the unknowns around what the "new normal" will look like and how long it will last.

The island has been in lockdown now for five weeks and our government last week moved us into 'Phase 2' of Guernsey's exit strategy by allowing some low-risk businesses to re-open.

A date cannot yet be placed on 'Phase 3', which would permit free movement around the island and the re-opening of schools, businesses and some leisure activities, while our authorities have also said it is too soon to detail what the 'new normal' will look like beyond that. 

Dr James Murray, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who is HSC's Head of Profession for Psychology, said there are many aspects to the current pandemic which are unprecedented.

We now have all sorts of resources linked, to help support your mental and health and wellbeing through #Covid_19 at https://t.co/y7Ar8dwReu

— James Murray (@drjameslmurray) April 7, 2020

One of the biggest from a mental health and wellbeing perspective is that there is no definitive 'end' in sight for those who are already struggling. 

"It helps to have certainty and to know that a thing is going to end or is coming up in the future," he said.

"It is more worrying when you don't feel in control and when you don't know when that is going to happen, and that unfortunately is the situation we are in."

"Things will get better, but we cannot say how and when, we cannot say what the 'new normal' is going to be or how long that is going to last for.

"I think that is going to be very difficult – it is a lower grade but longer term stressor than the one month of lockdown we have had so far and I think that is going to be very challenging to deal with."

Pictured: Law Enforcement is one of the authorities that has spoken out about domestic abuse during the lockdown, encouraging victims not to suffer in silence. 

Dr Murray said people across the community are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the current circumstances and are on his team's radar. 

"We are really worried about anyone who was already struggling financially or who had employment that was a bit rocky before, as history tells us they are one of the groups that do tend to suffer the most," said Dr Murray.

"We are concerned about children in vulnerable families and households where there is domestic abuse situations because we have even fewer eyes on them and they are stuck at home in a difficult situation.

"There are people with alcohol and online gaming addictions, and people on the verge of addictions, which may get worse due to the lack of routine and other things to do.

"There are people who were isolated already who now are now even more restricted and alone, and there are staff and volunteers right on the sharp end who are suffering."

Anyone can be affected by mental health and a dedicated page is available on the States website pointing to the many support services and helplines which are available.

Pictured top: The Oberlands mental health facility and, inset, Dr James Murray.