Sheffield mental health experts fear people are becoming more anxious during lockdown

Sheffield mental health charities fear that people are experiencing heightened anxiety and their mental health may be suffering due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Mind Sheffield and Andy’s Man Club have identified that men in particular are at risk during this period of self isolation, as they often rely on more practical, external coping mechanisms that revolve around being active in the community, which they are unable to currently access.

The charities have adapted their services during the national shutdown by replacing physical meetings and mental health check ups with regular phone calls, zoom meetings and texts.

But both mental health groups expressed how difficult it is to provide adequate, remote support to those who are struggling.

Support and recovery manager, Zoe Berridge, who works for Mind in Sheffield shared how this period of isolation might pose different challenges for men suffering from mental health problems.

"There are differences in how men and women talk about these things and often women will talk more openly and men will talk in the more, practical way, it is easier to talk through the prism of something more practical”, she said.

"I think the men in our service are quite used to receiving this support so they are used to having people ask and talk about their mental health.

"But some people don’t have access to the internet right now and obviously people have realised, how important it is for keeping in touch or keeping entertained when you are stuck at home with nothing else to do.

"For people who don't have the internet, they are more isolated and they are sort of sitting there, staring at the walls.”

A select number of Mind support workers are still meeting clients, without internet access and who don’t feel comfortable talking on the phone, in person.

While maintaining a safe two metre distance, patients can discuss their mental health with staff during a walk, while picking up essential shopping or doing some gardening together.

The support and recovery manager said clients are grateful to have remote check-in sessions during lockdown.

"Generally I think people appreciate that the support is something and they still have someone to talk to because a lot of people don't want us to visit right now”, Zoe added.

"They're anxious, they are worried and they want to just lock themselves in the house.

"A lot of people are stressed and worried they aren't fully getting all their needs met, their lives have changed completely and they know that we can't really help as much with that as we can normally.

"In terms of eligible needs, peoples’ support is focused around the community and helping them to become less isolated and at the moment people have become more isolated.”

Mental health professionals across the country have expressed their concerns about how people with long term mental health conditions may have deteriorated.

Zoe explained what she fears the long term impacts of lockdown might be.

"People where part of their recovery was immersing themselves in social situations and now they have taken a complete step back from that - they have now taken a few step backs in their journey”, she said.

"I think people who struggle to talk more about their emotions will perhaps be hit harder by this because support is being offered from a distance and you need to be able to communicate in a way where you can get your needs met.”

Andy’s Man Club who used to meet every Monday evening at Sheffield Central Fire Station on Eyre Street are now using virtual video chats to hold support sessions for men to discuss how they are coping.

Lead facilitator, Andy Wilson explained shared how the online meetings aim to give men who are struggling with their mental health a sense of normality.

“The system still runs the same, we still ask the same sort of questions and there is still, the same interaction but it is run by guys who are comfortable with online systems and management.

"It is different but the guys are getting real benefit from it, it's real positive - it's not perfect but it's something that is out there that we are using to make sure the system still works and the charity still operates.

"More importantly, the support is still there for men if they need it.”

While the group is for men only, Andy said that the anxieties people are experiencing in lockdown are universal.

"This is not just a man thing, this is society now, everybody is meeting challenges and facing challenges with having their lives changed and work turned upside down.

"It's not just the anxiety of now, you have people that are now worried about what it is going to look like when things start to settle down again, what is that new normality going to look like.

"People need to accept that this ok, you are going to be feeling anxious, you are going to have problems and that's alright because everybody is in that boat - from people who are employed, to managing directors.

"It's about accepting it first and knowing that you are not alone and talking.”

If you are affected by mental health issues, you can call the Rethink Mental Illness helpline on 0808 801 0440.

You can also contact The Samaritans on 0114 276 7277.

To join Andy Man’s Club, email [email protected].

To join Andy’s Man Club email [email protected].