As the second wave begins to rear its bubonic head, the reintroduction of strict social distancing measures has already begun. If the resurgence of Covid cases in Scotland maintains its current trajectory, a second lockdown is not entirely out of the question.
Yes, Scotland “survived” the first lockdown. But what we are so quick to forget is that it was a lockdown in the height of Spring and Summer. We aren’t prepared for the fallout that a Winter lockdown would bring. This deadly combination of economic pressures, job insecurity, social isolation, and worsening weather conditions is slowly brewing into the perfect storm; one that could devastate the nation’s already struggling mental health.
It is an understatement to say that lockdown measures have put stress on the NHS. But the impact on mental health services is too often being left out of the conversation. Six months before the first known case of Covid was confirmed, suicide rates in Scotland were already at a five-year high. This has only been worsened by the pandemic. The link between lockdown measures and declining mental health is already well-documented, with the majority of the population experiencing a deterioration in their mental wellbeing. According to Samaritans, 1 in 10 adults in the UK reported thoughts of suicide and self-harm in the first week of lockdown.
Not only would a winter lockdown see a return of these patterns, but it would most harshly affect those with pre-existing mental health needs. While the term “winter blues” is thrown around a lot, it is well documented that the symptoms of certain psychiatric disorders worsen in the winter months. One notable example of this is Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a unique form of clinical depression. People with SAD experience symptoms at the same time each year during winter. The NHS believes that 1 in 15 people in the UK experience symptoms of SAD between September and April.
Many mental health services simply lack the resources and infrastructure to provide care that is both all-encompassing and socially distant. This has led to a knock-on effect of wards being forced to reduce social contact and visiting hours. People’s support networks have also been seriously impacted, with access to their family, friends, and community being severely limited in an attempt to slow the spread. While this has helped to flatten the curve, we can’t ignore the fact that it has also left the vulnerable and those in the most desperate need of mental health support more and more isolated.
There is no simple answer to this conundrum. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place; forced to choose between the nation’s physical and mental health. But just because there isn’t an easy answer that doesn’t mean the problem stops existing. The UK’s mental health crisis hasn’t gone anywhere and neither has the need for support. Whatever the Scottish Government plans are moving forward, the impact on mental health must be at the forefront of the discussion. Scotland needs guidelines that will allow people to get the support that they need and that they deserve.
If you have been affected by any of the topics raised in this article and need somebody to talk to, the Samaritans hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whatever you’re experiencing, you can call them on 116 123.