How six months of lockdown has affected our mental wellbeing

In March, we faced an unprecedented crisis. Coronavirus threatened the lives of hundreds of thousands across the population and our health service faced the prospect of not being able to cope with the problem.

On 23rd March, the UK Government therefore put stringent measures in place to stop the spread of the disease. This “huge national effort to slow the spread [of Covid-19] by reducing unnecessary social contact,” included ordering the closing of cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, cinemas, gyms, leisure centres, libraries, places of worship, unessential shops and more. It banned gatherings of more than two people in public and prohibited us from seeing family or friends.

While absolutely necessary, the announcement of this nationwide ‘lockdown’ by PM Boris Johnson was the most drastic of its kind in living memory and we are still learning of the scale of its impact.

In the six months since lockdown, 87% has been working closely with organisations whose staff are on the front line fighting against the virus, including Air Ambulances UK, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM). For RCEM, 87% built a fully customised mental wellbeing app for 10,000 emergency physicians, which has subsequently been rolled out to all staff working in Emergency Departments; an additional 20,000 workers.

Dr Sunil Dasan, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at St George’s Hospital, London, and Chair of RCEM's Sustainable Working Practices Committee, said, “The Coronavirus pandemic has meant there have been huge changes to emergency medical practices and ways of working. Staff have had to make enormous adjustments. Support is therefore needed during these times of great change, to help workers deal with the associated levels of stress in a way that doesn’t impact them negatively.

“What’s more, staff will face the challenges of continual change as the pandemic progresses. 87% is a fantastic platform that can provide advice and guidance, which can be tailored over time, and its agility allows us to track staff’s mental wellbeing, see themes emerging and give them the support they need when they need it.” 

In total, 87%’s work has meant that 30,000 medical staff have been safeguarded against the stresses associated with Coronavirus, while small businesses have also had access to free support via the 87% app, which has been scientifically designed to help users build healthy and positive mental health habits. Concerns over finances, isolation and quality of life have been prevalent for many, while we adjust to changing work routines and uncertainty in many areas of our lives.

At a time when our wellbeing is being challenged more than ever, Dr Serra Pitts, Scientific Director of 87%, notes the importance of businesses monitoring the mental health of their staff. “It’s estimated that around a quarter of workplace absences are due to mental ill-health and the last six months have been especially hard, not least those tasked with keeping us healthy. The importance of acknowledging employees’ wellbeing in the medical sector and beyond, given the impact on business, can therefore not be overstated.”

Any businesses who would like more information should contact sales@87percent.me.