Psychiatrists fear of mental illness tsunami due to stored up problems during the lockdown.
In a BBC health report by Philippa Roxby, psychiatrists are concerned because children and older adults do not receive the necessary support due to closures of schools, self-isolation, and even fear of hospitals.
A survey shows that rises in emergency cases and a decline in regular check-ups even though they emphasized that mental health services remain open for business.
Professor Wendy Burn, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists share that “we are already seeing the devastating impact of Covid-19 on mental health, with more people in crisis. But we are just as worried about the people who need help now but aren’t getting it. Our fear is that the lockdown is storing up problems which could then lead to a tsunami of referrals.”
1,300 mental-health doctors from across the UK were surveyed and findings say that 43% of them had seen a rise in urgent cases and almost half or 45% reported a decline in routine appointments. One psychiatrist was quoted that “patients appear to have evaporated, I think people are too fearful to seek help.” Another one said that many of their patients have developed mental disorders as a direct effect of coronavirus disruption – eg social isolation, increased stress, running out of meds.”
In the Philippines, you may reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) crisis hotline which is open 24/7. Contact 0917-899-USAP )8727) or 8989-USAP (8727).
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