Mental health ‘first aid’ needed for virus stress
A team of mental health ‘first aiders’ are needed in the West Midlands to deal with huge numbers struggling in the coronavirus crisis.
The Mayor of the West Midlands says he is concerned about the long-term effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, with loneliness, bereavement and sudden unemployment putting a strain on people.
Andy Street says more experts need to be taken on specifically to deal with the rise of those facing a personal crisis.
He spoke as a Centre for Mental Health report suggests around 8.5 million adults and 1.5 million children in England are likely to need mental health support following the pandemic.
Support from West Midlands Combined Authority will include a push for more mental health first aiders, increased take up of the NHS Every Mind Matters programme and increased suicide prevention.
Mr Street, said: “The challenges we have collectively faced have been immense and will unquestionably have impacted on people’s mental health. Never before has the work of the combined authority in helping people’s mental health and physical wellbeing been more important.
“It is crucial people are fit and well as we pull together to help our region recover from the impacts of this pandemic.”
Experts suggest two-thirds of people will already have existing mental health difficulties and may be receiving support, but others will need help for the first time.
#It also predicts that among people who have not experienced mental ill health prior to the pandemic, demand for services is forecast at 1.33 million people for moderate-severe anxiety and 1.82 million for moderate to severe depression.
In 2016 the WMCA established a mental health commission.
Since then it has supported the training of 43,000 mental health first aiders and will now be supporting more training across the region.
