Bucks psychotherapist warns Covid-19's impact on mental health will be felt for years

A Buckinghamshire psychotherapist says the knock on impact on mental health services from Covid-19 will be seen for years.

More than half (51%) of BACP members think we will continue to see the impact of COVID-19 on people's mental health for up to five years.

Of the members 44% believe there is less taboo around having therapy among the public and 82% of therapists say that remote therapy has made counselling more accessible.

But 80% report demand for therapy means their service is either full or over capacity.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) today published its inaugural Mindometer report, the largest survey of 4,923 UK therapists since the start of the pandemic.

The findings show that whilst the impact of Covid may have a negative mental health legacy for many there is an improved openness to seek help when needed, as well as easier access to services remotely.

Buckinghamshire psychotherapist Cate Campbell explains that the pandemic impacted every area of peoples lives and so the needs are changing:

"One of the major things was our daily lives changed. So, not going to the coffee shop, not talking to the shop worker, not seeing friends, not having that time travelling to and from work.

"They are all things that regulate our mental health and the were just gone in one swoop.

"What I am seeing is people are coming with symptoms that are too bad for ordinary everyday NHS care but not bad enough for the complex needs care.

"So people are falling between the two and thats really tough and will be hard to sort out without new systems.

"Schools need to have counsellors and support service in the school, employees can look at what they offer so people can seek counselling more easily... Changes like that would make a real difference.

"It is great that people are coming forward for help it shows they are prioritising their mental health. The problem is they're coming forward with complex needs and we are seeing an uptake in clients so there is a delay in helping.

"What we are saying is come forward as soon as you think you need help, before things get worse and you're on your knees."

However, despite these challenges 82% of therapists have found online therapy and being more accessible to be a positive or rewarding experience of working remotely.

And the positives don't stop there the survey also revealed 57% of therapists saw people who had previously suffered from social anxiety had found the lockdown eased symptoms as they didn't have to deal with people or the outside world, in the way they were expected to previously.

The pandemic has seen more people seek the support they need through therapy and 72% of therapists believe that people are now more open to having therapy than they were before the pandemic, an important measure in banishing the stigma that still surrounds poor mental health.

Additionally, 82% of therapists state online/remote working has made therapy more accessible to both existing clients and people seeking therapy for the first time.

This is due to the greater flexibility and choice to prospective clients, who can now pick from therapists from all over the country as they deal with the impact of COVID-19.