More than one in four people in Cymru (26%) have said that they had developed a
mental health problem during the pandemic, according to a survey conducted by Mind Cymru.
Not being able to see friends, family, or a partner and being worried about the virus were the main contributing factors given by respondents.
Mind Cymru’s ‘Coronavirus: One Year On’ survey also revealed that nearly two in three (63%) adults believe that their mental health and wellbeing has got worse since the first national lockdown in March 2020.
In response to these findings, Mind Cymru is relaunching the #StandForMe campaign, demanding that mental health is positioned at the top of the Welsh Government’s agenda for years to come.
The charity is calling on the new Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, to ensure the Welsh Government’s commitments to prioritising mental health support to help with the long-term recovery are delivered.
Susan O’Leary, Interim Director at Mind Cymru, said: “As we emerge from a global health pandemic, support for the mental health of the nation must remain a priority for the Welsh Government. Significant numbers of people with an existing mental health problem have experienced a worsening of their mental health, with a number experiencing a problem for the first time.
“These initial results highlight the need for long-term investment and support for Welsh people in the coming years as we know that mental health issues do not have a short-term fix. Whilst the easing of restrictions will come as a relief for many of us, this survey indicates that for a significant number of people with mental health problems there may be added worry. People will need support to overcome this and return to many aspects of their lives before the pandemic."