Psychologist says lockdown exit plan will have positive mental health impact on Scots
Nicola Sturgeon announced a timetable for Scotland's route out of lockdown to parliament yesterday.
It's thought yesterday's announcement about the easing of lockdown restrictions will have a big impact on our mental health.
A Scottish psychologist says hearing about dates in advance where we could be back to a much more normal life will have given people across the country a boost.
Nicola Sturgeon announced a timetable for Scotland's route out of lockdown to parliament yesterday, which included a hopeful move to level zero by the end of June.
Chris Hands, psychology lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "This kind of good news hits the reward centre in the brain and gives people that wee burst that you get by completing a task or achieving a goal - all these things that make us feel positive.
"People tend to feel better when they've got a sense of control over their own lives and when they've got that ability to plan and take that control, so having these concrete dates - that gives people a lift mentally.
"Having that ability to put a bit of certainty on things and to start to see the opportunities to socialise again - that's immeasurable in terms of the boost that can give."
It comes after the First Minister announced hairdressers and barbers can reopen from the 5th April, and most retail, hospitality and tourism sectors reopening from the 26th April.