A Warrington based mental health support group has seen a “monumental” increase in demand for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result Rise Warrington has implemented their Business Continuity Plan which has led to the recruitment of more volunteers and with support from Warrington Voluntary Action, they are seeking various funding streams to support the required increased operational activity.
Founder Mark Moran said: ” It is staring us in the face that the hidden pandemic that is poor mental health is rapidly following the curve of the virus outbreak, however, we are far from the “peak” and with the concerns of a second peak this will have disastrous effects on mental health.”
Mark added: “In these uncertain times, we are all affected by the lockdown that the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused. This can affect us in many ways with some seeing opportunities to spend more time with family, “Zooming” with friends and even making Yoga and Baking Videos, somethings they would never have dreamt of doing before. There is something to be said about this new found “freedom in confinement”.
“However, for ever increasing portion of the population, this contagion and our response to it continues to translate into trauma.”
Meanwhile needs for mental health services in the North West had already increased by 40% prior to the pandemic. On top of this alarming upsurge, service availability has decreased according to TUC figures.
North West Boroughs have also recently launched a 24-7 Mental Health Crisis Line.
Mark added:”Please reach out and call the Crisis Line should you be in serious state of distress. If you need assistance navigating services or you feel you just need to talk to someone, give the team at RISE a call; they can have a chat and if needed, signpost you onto the relevant services for your needs. Silence, isolation and the feeling of hopelessness has a massive effect on someone’s mental health; please reach out to get the help you need and more importantly, deserve.
“We are all too aware of the impact that austerity has had on our mental health services and the NHS overall. But whilst we clap and support all our heroes in PPE, they are still not given what they need to do the work they love.
“Dedication has been repaid with budget cuts, causing staff shortages and therefore having a direct impact on some of the most vulnerable members of the public. Recent local stories, compounded by other feedback, has really highlighted the failings that this lack of investment has caused. If you had been unfortunate enough to break your leg, you would not expect to be turned away saying you are ok. The difference is research has moved on leaps and bounds in MRI and X-ray equipment that it can easily be diagnosed, the appropriate treatment given and then in six weeks say all is well again with your leg. Unfortunately managing a person’s mental fitness is not black and white.
“Every case is unique as mental illness affects everybody differently but this still enables our very stretched services to make reasonable diagnoses. Unfortunately, if a person’s presentation is misunderstood or any mistakes are made, the comparison with the broken leg fades into insignificance. On average, over 40,000 in our town will suffer poor mental health at any one time over the next 12 months,” added Mark.
Rise can be contacted on 01925 595276 or via their website www.risenw.co.uk
