Coronavirus sees drop in Portsmouth people getting mental health help

Self-isolation and lockdown are leading to financial difficulties and social problems – prompting Portsmouth's mental health practitioners to appeal to those who need help.

Talking Change, a self-referral service in Portsmouth for adults, is offering remote appointments.

Solent NHS Trust, which runs the service, said the drop in people accessing services is due to coronavirus.

Sue Harriman, chief executive at Solent NHS Trust, said: ‘The NHS is here to support your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as your physical health.

‘We have adapted our services to ensure that we can continue to deliver care in the community whilst people remain at home.

‘At this really difficult and uncertain time, everyone being able to easily access self-referral mental health services is more important than ever. I’d encourage anybody, living in Portsmouth, who is finding this time hard to make use of the services available, we continue to be here for you.’

The service offers help with low mood, stress, relationship problems, bereavement and loss, trauma and anxiety disorders such as OCD, health anxiety and social phobia.

Appointments are being carried out in telephone and video calls, and there are online resources for therapies.

Medics will also be running a series of workshops on the videoconferencing platform Zoom, covering: self-kindness, managing stress, worry and uncertainties, stopping low mood and getting to sleep.

Dr Mahdi Ghomi, clinical director and consultant psychologist, said: ‘We know from previous similar events, such as Sars, that there can be an impact on the mental wellbeing of the wider community.

‘As we are all being challenged, it is important to recognise that a large part of our community is undergoing financial hardship and facing social difficulties.

‘Self-isolation is impacting many of us and especially the most vulnerable members of the community.

‘This, along with uncertainty about how we will return to normal after the outbreak, are all significant triggers to psychological and emotional difficulties.

‘Within Portsmouth we have worked hard to ensure that people can still have access to the health services they need, including our self-referral service, Talking Change.’

An employment advice service, Positive Minds, is being run with Portsmouth City Council.

:: Access Talking Change on 0300 123 4125 or talkingchange.nhs.uk

:: Contact Positive Minds on (023) 92 824795 or positivemindsportsmouth.org.uk

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