'It's okay not to feel okay' - The Yorkshire Evening Post shines a light on mental health in Leeds as pandemic tests us all

Support services across Leeds have reported a rise in the numbers of people seeking help during this year’s lockdown and with the winter months now upon us, life for some could feel especially tough.

Today, JPIMedia is launching a country-wide campaign to encourage people to be ‘There For Each Other’ as the Covid-19 outbreak tests everyone in so many different ways.

It comes as the Yorkshire Evening Post has been working to tackle the stigma around mental health through our ongoing #SpeakYourMind campaign which launched in 2017.

Throughout the pandemic we have been shining a spotlight on the wide-ranging impact of the virus and lockdown on the mental health of people across the city.

We reported in October stark figures by the Centre for Mental Health which estimated around 8.5m adults and 1.5m children across the country were likely to need mental health support in the wake of Covid-19, with most for depression and anxiety but also for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In Leeds, mental health experts have been describing a deteriorating situation in the city, with the pandemic exacerbating issues for those with existing problems but also affecting others for the first time.

Alison Lowe, chief executive of mental health charity Touchstone told the Yorkshire Evening Post the pandemic has had a “dramatic impact” on the wellbeing of people they work with.

“Not only are people reporting increased loneliness and isolation, the effects of furloughing, redundancy and loss of job security are massively impacting on mental wellbeing. People who were just managing are now in desperate straits, with no end in sight,” she said.

Alarming figures recently released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found Yorkshire had the highest suicide rates in the country for men and women in 2019.

A recent survey by Leeds Mind also found 60 per cent of people in Yorkshire said their mental health has worsened in lockdown and one in five adults with no previous history were now reporting their mental health as “poor or very poor”.

Just last month, Age UK Leeds told how they had been taking on referrals from the city’s mental health trust which chief executive Iain Anderson anticipated would rise over the coming months as Leeds’ older population found themselves increasingly isolated as lockdown wears on.

At Leeds Mencap, which supports people with learning disabilities, 94 per cent of its families have reported feeling more isolated during Covid-19, with 77 per cent experiencing increased anxiety.

Leeds-based charity Childline also reported that more than half the weekly 4,000 calls from children and young people it was receiving during the pandemic were related to mental health concerns and the numbers of people logging on to its online help pages had quadrupled since lockdown began in March.

The impact on parents was also studied, by Theta Global Advisors, who reported last month that more than half of Leeds parents said their mental health had suffered due to the impact of bubbles disbanding and having to juggle work and homeschooling - higher than the national average of two in five parents.

Backing our campaign, Dr Gwyn Elias, GP and clinical lead for mental health for NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group said mental health is a “top priority” in the city-wide response to the pandemic.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on how people are feeling and there’s been an increase in the number of people seeking support for a range of issues.

“It’s really important to acknowledge how difficult this year has been, to pay attention to our feelings and to look after our emotional and mental wellbeing, just as we look after our physical health.

“It’s also really important to understand that anyone from any walk of life can be affected and that it’s okay not to feel okay.”

He added: “As we go into winter and the festive season, things may be especially tough for some people.

“Please take time to check in with loved ones and friends by sending a text or giving someone a video call to say hello.

“This will become more important as we go through the colder months and people become more isolated.”

Kate Goldring, business development director at Leeds Mind said she hopes our ‘There For Each other’ campaign will remind people about the importance of looking after your mental health.

“We’ve all been in the same situation through this pandemic, but it’s impacted everyone in different ways.

“Whether it’s been worries about illness, social isolation, childcare issues, interruption to education, furlough, redundancy or financial worries (…the list goes on), the impact has been wide-reaching; not only for those with existing mental health difficulties, but also so many people who have never experienced poor mental health before.”

She added: “We would urge anyone and everyone that needs support to reach out – you don’t have to be at crisis point to seek help. We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and we have to work to maintain it in just the same way.

“We hope the ‘There for each other’ campaign reminds people of this.”

Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring the challenges that Leeds faces and how people are working hard to make a difference and support those struggling with their mental health, as well as asking what more can be done.

We will also be offering advice from experts alongside tips on how to improve mental health and recommendations for managing Christmas and New Year on a tighter budget.

Dr Gwyn Elias added: ““As well as helping others, connecting with people, being physically active, learning new skills and paying attention to the present (mindfulness) are all ways that can help us feel better and stay well.”

He added: “There are lots of different services in the city that can help – the important thing is pay attention to how you’re feeling and to reach out for support if you need it.”

Important websites and numbers:

Visit www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/coronavirusWest Yorkshire mental health 24/7 support line, provides confidential advice - 0800 183 0558

Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service, for anyone aged 17 or over: www.leedsmentalwellbeingservice.co.ukFor children and young people: www.mindmate.org.ukFor those struggling with alcohol and drug use: www.forwardleeds.co.uk

For people in crisis:

Connect, open 6pm-2am on 0808 8001212 or online chat at www.lslcs.or.yk

For people in crisis: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s 24/7 single point of access on 0300 300 1487

For people in crisis: A team of peer-support workers in partnership with Touchstone - 0113 8556191 or visit it www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/our-services/srvices-list/crisis

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