Campaigner warns Tayside could be faced with mental health pandemic following coronavirus lockdown

Campaigner warns Tayside could be faced with mental health pandemic following coronavirus lockdown

Campaigner Phil Welsh believes Dundee could be on the cusp of a mental health pandemic at the end of the coronavirus crisis – as hundreds across the city struggle to cope during the nationwide lockdown.

Mr Welsh, whose son Lee took his own life in 2017, has fears over the future and thinks the current situation the country finds itself in is likely to set people back in a battle against anxiety and depression.

The Tele has spoken to one man, who wished to remain anonymous and is currently battling depression, about his struggles and he admitted that he had contemplated taking his own life throughout the lockdown, with isolation and loneliness playing a major part in his life.

Mr Welsh believes it is one of many examples of people struggling across the area – and believes a number of factors could be seeing even those living “normal lives” struggling with mental health conditions.

He said: “When the end of this Covid-19 crisis becomes apparent, my fear is the country will be faced with another pandemic, a mental health one.

“Isolation, social distancing, people being furloughed from their place of work will be playing a part because, it’s perhaps the case that work is the only social interaction many people have.

“My fear is those who in `normal` times have had no issues with mental health, may, through this unprecedented experience, begin to develop depression or anxiety.

“Added to this pressure, third sector organisations which are normally available to offer support to people with mental health issues are not available in the usual sense.”

Mr Welsh added: “These are challenging times with no rule book available.

“When we come out of this, we are going to be faced with a broken economy, a stretched to the max NHS and a mental health crisis such like the country has never experienced before.”

Crisis Centre | Not In Vain For Lee

Indea Ogilvie, who has recently taken over the the Let’s Talk Tayside support group, said that she was noticing many more people are asking for help help.

The Facebook page, which helps those suffering from mental health issues, supports many across the region and Ms Ogilvie believes there will be an even bigger demand for those sorts of groups in the coming months.

She said: “There is definitely an increase in messages from people facing mental health concerns.

“However there is also an an increase in people helping others out.

“I have been in touch with people personally and many others are also offering words of support and comforting each other at this difficult time.”

 

Link to Evening Telegraph here