Mental health experts braced for post-Covid upsurge in patients
Local mental health services and GPs are braced for a tsunami of pandemic-related mental illness cases to emerge as the end of Covid-19 lockdown looms.
As restrictions ease, returning to ‘normal’ brings with it its own acute stresses and anxieties for people suffering mental illness, according to Minister for Disability at the Department of Health, Anne Rabbitte.
Mental illness associated with addictions, which worsened during lockdowns, as well as eating disorders associated with unrealistic expectations of body image on social media, are also fuelling demand for mental health services, she said.
The Galway East TD has confirmed this week major investment in mental health services in County Galway, including two new multi-disciplinary mental health teams with twelve professionals.
But Minister Rabbitte agreed that more funding is needed for the HSE, and organisations like Let’s Talk Galway in the charity sector, to tackle the imminent mental health crisis.
“What professionals are telling us, and what GPs are seeing everywhere, are the whole side-effects of the Pandemic. Some people went into their rooms and loved it, and the idea of opening up is bringing a huge anxiety.
“That even means going back to school or back to college – they’re finding it hard. People felt this lockdown suited them, whereas with the re-opening they feel like there are pressures on them,” explained Minister Rabbitte.
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