Increase in demand for mental health services in North East Lincolnshire since pandemic, report states
North East Lincolnshire is experiencing increasing demand across “all mental health services” since the Covid-19 pandemic began, according to a new report.
Discussed in a North East Lincolnshire Council meeting last week, the Covid-19 Impact Assessment for North East Lincolnshire focuses on a range of topics such as economy, education, housing, adult social care and health – and how coronavirus has impacted these.
According to the report, the borough has seen an increase in post-natal depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders amongst young people since the start of the pandemic.
It also states that, amongst adults, stress, anxiety and uncertainty have increased, whereas the biggest issues for elderly people has been loneliness and isolation.
It reads: “In North East Lincolnshire, there has been an increase in demand and acuteness across all mental health services and age-groups since the pandemic began and especially with the lockdowns.
“There has also been an increase in post-natal depression and feelings of loneliness in new mums in our area. Increase in anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders have been noticed in our young people.
“Stress, anxiety, and uncertainty have also increased in adults and for older people the main issues have been loneliness and isolation.”
The report also states that North East Lincolnshire has seen an “increase in the number of suicides in the area”.
“Alcohol related problems have increased in the area since the pandemic and with the lockdown. There is emerging evidence of this with insight from Diana Princess of Wales Hospital (Grimsby Hospital) that they are seeing more people with complex alcohol issues currently,” it continues.
This comes after another report published by the ONS (Office of National Statistics) at the end of last week, which discusses Covid-19 and depression in adults.
The findings conclude that around 1 in 4 (24 percent) adults living in the most deprived areas of England experienced some form of depression, compared to around 1 in 8 (12 percent) adults in the least deprived areas of England.
Psychologist Dr Shungu Hilda M’gadzah said: “We are certainly seeing an increase in adults suffering from and complaining of depression and anxiety.
“For some, working from home is a curse as they have become even more isolated and find it’s easier to spend hours in bed.
“The impact of Covid-19 seems to affect all demographics, including children and young people, and those who are classified as vulnerable are even more susceptible.”
Contact Gi Grimsby
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
Follows us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest local stories, breaking news and to join the conversation