EARLY steps being taken to address the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on people’s mental health in Carlisle have been welcomed by the county's leaders.

Cumbria County Council is proposing to provide £25,000 to bolster mental health support in the Carlisle area, in light of the growing mental health challenges faced by many as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The funding would be drawn from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund, provided by central Government to support local public health efforts.

A total of £50,000 has been allocated from this fund to the county council’s Carlisle area team, and is set to be allocated to a range of initiatives related to the Covid-19 response.

The impact of Covid-19 on mental health has been “identified as one of the key recovery themes in Carlisle”, according to the county council’s area manager for Carlisle, Paul Musgrave.

As such, it has been proposed that £25,000 of this fund would be used to support organisations and groups in the Carlisle area working with those facing mental health issues.

The proposed allocation was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the county council’s local committee for Carlisle, composed of county councillors representing the Carlisle area.

This proposal comes shortly after Carlisle City Council agreed to provide £25,000 in funding to bolster organisations providing mental health support in the district, including Carlisle Eden Mind, which runs the Lighthouse crisis service.

This service has seen a surge in demand recently in the wake of the impact Covid-19 has brought on communities across Carlisle.

This surge in demand has prompted Carlisle Eden Mind to explore a potential expansion of its Lighthouse crisis service, to accommodate the increased demand.

Reflecting on the proposed allocation of funding, Upperby division Labour councillor and county council leader Stewart Young welcomed the “focus on mental health issues” that was being proposed.

The impact on mental health of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Young said, is going to be an issue “not just in Cumbria”, but “all around the country”.

As such, he said he “really welcomed” the “early focus” on the issue.

Conservative Stanwix Urban division councillor Elizabeth Mallinson noted her support for the proposed allocation of funding.

“There are a lot of people out there that have very complex and difficult needs,” she said, adding that the funding would be a “step in the right direction” towards addressing the issue.