Hartlepool sees rise in mental health cases as pandemic takes its toll

The pandemic has brought with it a number of problems for people, taking its toll on their mental health

Hartlepool Borough Council officers noted after an initial decrease in mental health referrals at the start of the coronavirus outbreak, activity levels have increased to ‘pre-pandemic levels and beyond’.

Cllr Stephen Thomas, council mental health champion, speaking at the adult and community based services committee on Friday, said support needs are likely only going to rise going forward.

He added during the recent World Mental Health Day one of the key messages they were trying to promote was accessing support services early, which he stressed was key going forward.

Cllr Thomas said: “Getting that message out that there is support out there, there is no stigma to mental health, one in four people will experience some sort of mental health condition at some time in their life.

“The really important thing, as with most health conditions, is accessing support at the earliest opportunity.

“I think mental health support needs are probably only going to rise going forward so I think it’s really, really vital that we do get some of those key messages out.”

He noted one of the things coming through in recent months in regards to mental health is people accessing services for the first time, but often leaving it initially before reaching out for support.

Cllr Thomas added: “Very often they have left it quite a while before they’ve actually got in touch with services for help, so their conditions are probably a little bit more developed than they would have been if they accessed services earlier.”

Council officers added work has been ongoing locally with the Mental Health Forum to ensure residents with mental health needs continue to be supported throughout the pandemic.

This includes hosting virtual activities as part of World Mental Health Day and promoting services in different ways, such as through social media and in partnership with Middleton Grange Shopping Centre.

A pilot has also been commissioned which will allow people to access the Brain in Hand app – a digital solution offering access to personalised support around the clock.

Cllr Sue Little, chair of the adult and community based services committee, urged residents to seek support if needed, adding they are not alone.

She said: “Even if you never thought you’d suffer from mental health, over these last seven months I think it’s massively, massively increased.

“If people don’t like talking to someone about their issues, there’s text services out there.

“The more numbers that we can get out there to help our residents the better it is hopefully going to be for them.

“Somebody will always listen and always reply to them, nobody is alone going through this pandemic, we’re all suffering in one way or another.”

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.