05th May 2021
If you’re covering the ONS report published this morning on Coronavirus and depression in adults, specifically the impact of money worries and rental accommodation, the following comments may be of use:
Dr Marianne Trent, a clinical psychologist at Good Thinking Psychological Services:
“That more than a fifth of the adults in this country have been experiencing some form of depression shows the brutal psychological fallout of the pandemic.
“Once again, young adults, whose jobs were often the first to go as many work in retail or hospitality, have been the hardest hit emotionally.
“A normal part of adolescence and young adulthood is social interaction with peers. The pandemic and associated lockdowns have made it very difficult for this to happen and as such it’s understandable that young people’s moods have dipped. For 43% of young women to have experienced some form of depression is a frightening statistic.
“We are social beings and as such we often get a great deal of our self-soothing from being around others or doing activities outside the home such as having meals out, visiting the cinema or the gym. With this being impossible for much of the past year, anxiety and depression will understandably rise.
“Money worries are clearly a growing issue for people around the UK, which is a reflection of the economic uncertainty we are surrounded by. People are considerably more worried about their jobs and their income and that can quickly transition into depression.
“It’s understandable that people who own their homes outright are far less likely to experience depression than those who rent their homes. They have an additional level of financial security.
“That people in deprived areas of the country are more likely to experience depression is a sign of the differences in opportunity across these demographics.
“Social psychology also tells us that ‘sick building’ syndrome has an impact on the mood, wellbeing and physical health of people within those buildings.
“My professional experience of supporting clients’ mental health during the various lockdowns is that their landlords have not been able, and in some cases willing, to attend to repairs and property maintenance within the same timeframes that they would have done pre-pandemic.
“This is especially problematic when, due to the lockdowns, people have been spending more time in their homes with little respite.”
Janine Elizabeth McDonald, founder of Clear The Clutter Now:
"I've seen a big increase in people looking for support in decluttering their homes during the pandemic, as they feel their house is 'closing in' on them.
"This has a significant adverse impact on mental wellbeing, the result being strained relationships with children, partners and themselves in the form of anxiety and depression.
"Many people have been confined within their four walls for long periods of time and have been surrounded by material objects that are not always beneficial to their wellbeing. Many have also lost loved ones and are now dealing with their belongings, too.
"The effects of the pandemic on mental wellbeing, I feel, will last for many years to come."