Going into another UK wide lockdown will have an impact on the mental health of the nation. We just don’t know yet what it will be.
If the last year has taught us anything it’s that research saves lives. The rapid production of the COVID-19 vaccines could not have happened without investment in epidemiology, virology and other sciences. The vast amount of knowledge now held by the experts in these fields is the product of decades of research and education, and the outcome is the lifesaving treatments and vaccine that is being rolled out.
However not all areas of scientific research have benefited from the same levels of investment.
Mental health research has been under funded for too long. And whilst the progress in the areas of physical health have resulted in an understanding of the effect COVID has on the body, and therefore the development of a means to prevent it; Little is understood about the impact the pandemic, and the government response, is having on our mental health.
It is vital that as the government reacts to the raising infection levels, research into the mental health implications of that response is carried out.
That is why MQ is renewing calls, made in September last year in conjunction with the Academy of Medical Sciences, for the UK Government to prioritise research into the mental health effects of the pandemic.
Without research the government can’t make fully formed decisions.
Dr Adrian James, President of The Royal College of Psychiatrists said in The Guardian ‘The Covid–19 crisis poses the greatest threat to mental health since the second world war.’
Without knowing the full extent of the impact schools closing, social distancing measures and more lockdowns are having, the government are making decisions blind.
Without real time information it is near impossible to know what the impact of the new restrictions alert level 5 bring will have on the nations mental health. In particular the mental health of our young people and those most vulnerable.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood has expressed concern that not enough has been done to address the growing mental health crisis. The APPG has now begun work, supported by MQ, on a new report that will address the burden of the mental health pandemic that many believe we are already in.
Whether schools stay open or close the ‘COVID generation’ may well be dealing with the mental health impacts for many years to come.
This is why MQ mental health research is investing in a new study into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young peoples mental health. Not only will this research feed into policy makers decisions, but will also provide future learnings on the impact stressful situations can have and the long term effects.
Using the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic as a stressor, not only will we look at how symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people have changed, but whether these changes can predict those who will go on to experience longer term issues.
“It is only through research that we can fully understand the current situation and make informed decisions about what to do about it. The impact that the tight new restrictions going into alert level 5 has on the mental health of the most vulnerable people is not yet known and cannot be without investment into research. That is why we are calling on the UK government to prioritise research into mental health at this pivotal moment in time.” – Lea Milligan. CEO MQ: Mental health research
