S3 E2: Coronavirus pandemic and mental health

What is the Mental Health Foundation Podcast? This is the Mental Health Foundation podcast. A series which brings to you a range of mental health topics, real life stories, expert comments, and mental health tips. Bethan Buswell is your producer and host. She has her own lived experience of mental health problems and with this podcast she and the Mental Health Foundation want to raise awareness, get people talking and provide support and hope. **Remember to rate, like, review and subscribe** !Before we introduce the episode, we want to remind you that government advice designed to keep us safe during the Covid-19 outbreak is under constant review and will be different depending on where you live. Please remember to keep up to date via reputable sources. On today’s episode Bethan talks to you about the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on our mental health. We recorded this episode in early September 2020 when for many of us, we had been seeing a gradual easing of lockdown, children heading back to school, students back to uni and some people heading back to work. For some people this brought longed-for opportunities. But for many, even the happy, much anticipated changes were difficult for our mental health. And lastly, we are still far from knowing what the pandemic means for our society moving forward... So, on the show we want to explore these big themes – and Bethan has some great guests to help her tackle them. Firstly, she will be speaking to, Suba, a junior doctor who has been working in the Emergency Department of an NHS hospital in London during the coronavirus outbreak. Then Dr David Crepaz-Keay, who is the Head of Applied Learning at the Foundation. He will talk us through what has been happening with mental health in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. Lastly, we finish with Bethan and Linda Liao, Digital Manager at the Mental Health Foundation sharing some tips on how we can look after our mental health during these uncertain times... Enjoy the show! Coronavirus and mental health hub We have created a coronavirus and mental health hub filled with advice on how to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. Find out more here: mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus Who’s on the show today? Bethan Buswell: Producer & host, Digital Engagement Officer at the Foundation Suba: Guest, Junior Doctor Podcast: Bio: mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/people/bethan-buswell David Crepaz-Keay: Guest, Head of Applied Learning, at the Foundation Bio: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/people/dr-david-crepaz-keay Linda Liao: Guest, Digital Manager, at the Foundation Podcast editor: Tim Butcher, filmmaker, podcast editor, writer, and producer Website: timbutcher.co.uk/ Podcast episode links: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/coronavirus-mental-health-pandemic/ Find out more about the Mental Health Foundation: Website: mentalhealth.org.uk Instagram: instagram.com/mentalhealthfoundation Facebook: facebook.com/mentalhealthfoundation Twitter: twitter.com/mentalhealth Get in touch with us: online@mentalhealth.org.uk Our podcast is also available on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/mental-health-foundation-podcast/id665005881 **Remember to rate, like, review and subscribe** Helplines If you are feeling like ending your life, please call 999 or go to A&E and ask for the contact of the nearest crisis resolution team. These are teams of mental health care professionals who work with people in severe distress. If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do. C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support. Text Shout to 85258.