Tens of thousands more people across Liverpool may need to access mental health services over the next few years, a new report warns.
Many mental health professionals have been warning that mental health services across the country will face extreme pressure as people continue to deal with the fallout of the pandemic.
Now, a new report to Liverpool Council’s adult social care and health select committee warns more than 20,000 people could require support in the coming years.
The report said the exact causes had been varied, with bereavement, economic damage and reduced social contact all contributing to worsening mental health.
It said that modelling in July, before the second two lockdowns, had predicted an increase in demand for already stretched services by almost a third.
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The report said: “Modelling with the use of Liverpool’s longitudinal health and care record data, Merseycare have forecast that overall demand (referrals) for mental health services could increase by around 31.1% (20,577) over the next 2 years.
“They expect the majority of referrals to come from people with pre-existing long-term conditions impacted psychologically by the pandemic, lockdown policies and economic downturn; with anxiety ,depression and post-traumatic stress disorder likely to be the most frequently presenting issues.
“However at the point of modelling (July 2020), they assumed no second or subsequent lockdown and are planning to refresh the model to reflect this and other subsequent developments.”
The report warned that staff in certain professions, particularly those in the health and care sector, are likely to face specific strains on their mental health associated with the frontline pandemic response.
Equally, those who have lost family members to Covid, people who are shielding and those who have been financially affected by Covid were also vulnerable.
The report also said there had been a distinct increase in the number of people approaching the council for support to tackle loneliness in the current lockdown, the third of the pandemic so far.
The report said: “Covid policies have socially isolated many, particularly people who have been shielding. In Liverpool, there are 51,540 people shielding due to Covid, including a further 6,960 people identified through the risk tool in February 2021.
“Liverpool has amongst the highest number of people shielding compared to other core cities. Those contacting LCC for befriending support increased by 125% during the third lockdown (2021) compared to the previous month.”
The council’s health and social care select committee will discuss the report next month.
