How has coronavirus affected our callers?

We have supported people who are struggling to cope over half a million times since the pandemic began.

Covid-19 was the main concern in 150,000 emotional support contacts we took during lockdown – however, our volunteers suggest it came up in nearly every contact.

Unsurprisingly, the things that people talk to us about has changed as time goes on.

The ways in which callers talked about these concerns have evolved during lockdown – from being related to the risks and effects of being exposed to the virus, to being focused on the economic, social, and mental health-related impacts of lockdown and social distancing measures.

Mental ill-health

Mental ill-health has been discussed in half of the conversations we’ve had with callers about Covid-19.

What were callers concerns in relation to mental health in first three months of lockdown? Through three months of lockdown, mental health related concerns centred on pre-existing mental health conditions being exacerbated because of lockdown and lack of access to mental health support. As lockdown went on, these concerns were discussed increasingly frequently, and callers appeared increasingly distressed, hopeless, and felt they couldn’t see a way out from them.

Loneliness and isolation

Loneliness and isolation has been discussed in 44% of the conversations we’ve had with callers concerned about Covid-19 – nearly as many as callers who were not concerned about Covid-19.

What were callers concerns in relation to loneliness and isolation in first three months of lockdown? Unsuprisingly, a major theme has been isolation from family and friends, and feelings of loneliness being exacerbated among those already isolated or living alone. We saw more calls, and more distress about this as lockdown went on. Throughout lockdown, our helpline has been commonly used as a source of social contact.

Family

Family has been discussed in 38% of the conversations we’ve had with callers about Covid-19.

What were callers concerns in relation to family in first three months of lockdown? At the beginning of lockdown, family concerns related to worries about catching and transmitting the virus within the family, the health of family members, being separated from loved ones, or rifts being caused by disagreements about social distancing. While calls about possible infection decreased significantly after the first month of lockdown, the remaining concerns were raised increasingly frequently as lockdown went on, stabilising in the third month.

Finance & unemployment

Finance, unemployment or benefits have been discussed in 8% of the conversations we’ve had with callers about Covid-19 – nearly twice as many as other callers who were not concerned about Covid-19.

What were callers concerns in relation to finance and unemployment in first three months of lockdown? In the first month of lockdown this concern was related to anxiety about job loss or being furloughed, as well as accessing benefits, food and money. As lockdown went on, concerns about accessing benefits, food and money significantly decreased in frequency, while worries about job loss and being furloughed continued to be raised frequently. In the latter months of lockdown, contacts from people who have already lost their job/income were also common.

If you're concerned about your well-being during this pandemic, call us free on 116 123, write us an email at [email protected], or try our self-help app here.