Coronavirus: Mental health crisis ‘inevitable’ during pandemic, warns charity

Self-isolation could lead to poorer mental health outcomes and ultimately premature deaths, charity warns

A mental health crisis is “inevitable” during the coronavirus pandemic, a charity has warned, as it urged psychiatric services to be on “red alert” for a wave of patients struggling to deal with self-isolation.

Mental health charity SANE said that while it was important to focus on the physical health of the country, officials must do more to raise awareness of those living with existing conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive order (OCD).

In a statement addressing the risks the Covid-19 outbreak poses to people living with mental health issues, SANE CEO Marjorie Wallace said increased loneliness could lead to poorer health outcomes and ultimately premature deaths.

She added: “Loneliness can be a killer. A study of 300,000 people found that it is associated with a 29 per cent increase in mortality. In other words, it is a significant factor in poorer health outcomes and premature death and we need to balance these risks.”

Ms Wallace said the prospect of self-isolation can be particularly daunting for the elderly and those living in substandard housing with little light and no access to green spaces.

“SANEline, our telephone helpline, is receiving more calls from people suffering from depression, anxiety, panic and OCD, who are becoming acutely distressed” Ms Wallace added.

“Psychiatric services need to be on red alert for patients who are deteriorating. SANE seeks to support and donations to ensure its lines stay open to help allay the fears and anxieties of the most vulnerable and meet the inevitable mental health crisis.”

It comes as the government faces increasing pressure to order a widespread lock down after thousands of people ignored calls for "social distancing" to slow the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will be thinking "very, very actively" about what steps to take if people continue to gather in large numbers in defiance of calls to stay apart.

There was anger among MPs at scenes over the weekend of crowds flocking to parks, markets, beaches and beauty spots across the UK.

Former Conservative Cabinet minister Julian Smith said he would support "any measure" the government brought forward to force people to comply with the guidance.

For Labour, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said ministers should be making "immediate preparations" for the "next stage" while learning from other European nations.

The calls came as the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK rose to 281.

On Monday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to fighting coronavirus – suggesting that a curfew enforced by police was possible, in line with measures taken in other countries.

There are growing fears that Britain is on a similar trajectory to Italy - now the epicentre of the pandemic - where the death toll passed 5,000 over the weekend.

The Italian government was one of a number of European countries to announce new or extended restrictions, with Germany banning public gatherings of more than two people not from the same household.

Later today, MPs will debate the emergency Coronavirus Bill - totalling 329 pages - which aims to enable action on increasing the number of available health and social care workers in a bid to lessen the burden on NHS frontline staff.