Nearly two in three people (63%) with existing mental health problems say their mental health and wellbeing has got worse during the pandemic, a survey by Mind Cymru has found.
With lockdowns easing, families reuniting and people beginning to move towards a ‘new normal’, the long-lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people’s mental health has come into focus once again.
Initial new figures from Mind Cymru’s ‘Coronavirus: One Year On’ survey revealed that nearly two in three (63%) adults believe that their mental health and wellbeing has got worse since the first national lockdown in March 2020. Moreover, just over a quarter of people (26%) said they had developed a mental health problem during the pandemic. Not being able to see friends, family or a partner and being worried about the virus were the main contributing factors, with 60% of respondents being worried about seeing or being near other people once restrictions ease.
In response to these findings, Mind Cymru are relaunching the #StandForMe campaign, demanding that mental health is at the top of the Welsh Government’s agenda for years to come.