A CRISIS around mental health is ongoing in the UK as more than double the number of adults are reporting feelings of depression since the outbreak of Covid-19. But help is always a phone call away.

A study from the Office for National Statistics, using data from early in the pandemic, shows that the number of GP diagnoses of depression drastically fell along with those of very other ailment. At the same time, self-reported feelings of helplessness increased.

Depression was on the rise, but those experiencing it felt unable to speak out, concious that it was not a suitable reason to seek NHS services during the deadly outbreak.

Theodore Joloza, principal research officer with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said: “While the number of GP-diagnosed cases of adult depression has fallen during the pandemic, these cases make up a larger percentage of overall diagnoses than pre-pandemic.

“Meanwhile self-reported feelings associated with depression continue to increase.

“The picture is one of a rising toll on mental health, with many people not necessarily accessing medical help.”

Data collected by the ONS during the period of January 27 to March 7 2021 paints a more accurate picture of the mental health toll from the Covid-19 situation.

Around one in five, or 21 per cent, of adults experienced some form of depression in early 2021, an increase on the 19 per cent in November 2020, more than double that seen before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Director of Public Health for Cumbria Colin Cox said: “Certainly we have been concerned about the impact to people’s mental health and wellbeing as we’re coming out of all of this.”

Part of further Contain Outbreak Management funding to the local authority will be used to support mental health post-Covid.

Mr Cox said the plan is to “put in place a range of things to help people take action themselves.

“A lot of people will be experiencing some challenges around mental health and wellbeing, all of that is totally understandable.”

He added that feelings of anxiety about leaving lockdown are not necessarily a mental health ailment.

“The difference here is that there will be people experiencing what I’d call normal anxiety about abnormal experiences.”

In this case it would be a matter for the self-help services planned.

But he said: “There will be people so badly affected that it becomes a clinical issue.”

When asked if mental health services could see demand and pressure coming out of lockdown, Mr Cox said: “It’s entirely possible”

But upcoming work around post-pandemic mental health will bring in support services that are not NHS-led.

NHS staff have battled the Covid-19 pandemic at huge cost to their mental health.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry Open revealed that more than a fifth, or 21 per cent, of 2,770 NHS staff surveyed reported strong feelings of depression and hopelessness.

The figures stand in stark contrast to five per cent before the pandemic.

Mr Cox said: “There are people who have seen things that are unpleasant.

“The NHS is putting a lot of support in place for staff, and the same is true for social care. Care home staff have seen a lot of people die, particularly in the first wave.

ONS figures reveal that younger adults and women were more likely to experience some form of depression, 4 in 10, 43 per cent, of women between the ages of 16 and 29 experienced depressive symptoms in contrast to 26 per cent of men.

Depression disproportionately affected those in deprived areas and renters during the pandemic period as financial pressures hit home.

During a recent meeting of the Cumbria County Council Health and Wellbeing Board, Mr Cox and Coun Deborah Earl laid out plans for support of deprived communities in the next round of Government outbreak funding.

Speaking at the meeting, Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young said: “As I’ve heard you say Colin in a number of presentations, Covid-19 is not an equal opportunity pandemic.

“Unfortunately the level of cases and hospitalisations and subsequent deaths is not spread equally across the population and there is a clear correlation actually with poverty, deprivation, low pay, low-skilled jobs, zero-hour contracts, inability to take time off to self-isolate – all of these factors are contributing to a higher attrition rate in certain communities.

“We must be aware of that and we must target these resources in order to help those parts of our communities that are suffering more than others.”

Councillor Deborah Earl said: “What we’ve seen is, as we start to come out of lockdown, people are coming with mental health problems and the county council are going to work on that.

“There’s nothing final yet, we’re still in the planning stages.”

The areas of greatest need will be identified and services will be set up accordingly.

However, for those struggling with their mental health, help is out there now.

The Samaritans are available 24 hours per day, 365 days a year.

“Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you, says the charity. To access support, call 116 123 for free or visit samaritans.org

A wealth of support and information around mental health is also available at mind.org.uk

Mind also runs a helpline of its own, operating 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except for bank holidays.

To get in touch with Mind, call 0300 123 3393.

Women’s only gym ICan Health and Fitness CIC, which has been running at The Maltings on Bridge Street in Carlisle since 2007, has recently launched WeCan, a wellbeing hub for the needs of all genders and ages.

But at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, mindfulness and meditation sessions had to be held on Zoom.

The team at WeCan launched a phone service to support people who may have been feeling lonely during lockdown and they were “overwhelmed” by the response.

To find out more about their work, visi: www.icanfitnesscumbria.co.uk or call 0800 038 6018

As Mental Health Awareness Week begins on Monday, a great number of Cumbrians will be taking part in fundraising efforts for Mental Health Foundation, the charity behind the campaign.

The foundation said: “Every pound you raise will help us tip the balance in favour of a world with good mental health for all.

“You can do a challenge event for us, take part in one of our flagship fundraising campaigns or simply do your own thing to raise money. Let us know what you’re doing by emailing events@mentalhealth.org.uk”