How we’re carrying on – Hear Our Voice

Damian’s View on the Lockdown and Mental Health 

I’ve been thinking about another national lockdown and how it’s going to affect people’s mental health. I think it will affect people’s lives and make them isolated again.

We don’t know how long this will all go on for. We have six months of these restrictions but nothing is certain.

I’m worried about not being able to see my family. I’m not sure what Christmas is going to be like. I think this will affect people’s minds, health and wellbeing.

I do cope but I have to find things to do to manage to keep myself going. I’ll go out if I need to, as I don’t want to go out in the cold. I might get bored but I’d rather be inside and warm. You can catch illnesses when you go out like pneumonia and of course coronavirus at the minute.

I’ll keep positive and I’ll keep doing things. You have to adapt.

Zoom meetings have helped me throughout the year. I have been in touch with Bradford People First and BTM which is good. Keeping in touch with people keeps me positive.

I recently had a chat with the BTM group about their mental health and lockdown. I wanted to know how lockdown affects everybody.

Here are some things that the group said about another lockdown;

‘I think the change to routine is the biggest thing for me because I thrive on knowing what I’m going to do. It changed everything last time and everything was a bit of a shock. I tried to cope with it as it came but now you can prepare in advance of things you can do to keep you busy. It’s hard I know I’ll feel lonely. If you plan in advance you can do video calls and things.’

‘It makes me feel a bit disappointed and a bit depressed about it. When I find something to do at home then I’m alright but I don’t want to stay in all the time doing nothing. Getting in touch on video calls is better.’