Coronavirus Australia: Mental health impacts ‘second wave’ of COVID-19

A leading Australian psychiatrist says the impact of social distancing measures will result in a “second wave” and “surge” of people needing mental health support.

The necessary responses to the threat of coronavirus in Australia are “wreaking havoc” on our mental health and will result in a second wave “much longer and deeper” than the disease itself, a leading psychiatrist says.

Youth mental health professor Patrick McGorry wants to see a second phase of measures rolled out in the coming weeks to bolster a system which he believes is “not well prepared” for the anticipated surge in care.

Last month, the Federal Government announced a $1.1 billion package to boost services including $74 million for mental health and wellbeing. It included a dedicated coronavirus wellbeing support line, the digital portal Head to Health and a national communications campaign.

A dedicated Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is now available to support Australians. This includes a free Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Line 1800 512 348 available 24/7 & an online platform with mental health resources 👉 https://t.co/5ghRIPWoty @beyondblue pic.twitter.com/EENVrYW7ya

— National Mental Health Commission (@NMHC) April 15, 2020

Prof McGorry told Today on Thursday: “It's the second set of responses that we need to actually address now.”

“I think (Health Minister) Greg Hunt and (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison are very sympathetic to mental health,” the former Australian of the Year said.

“They must realise now there's going to be a second wave, and it's going to be a much longer and deeper wave than the wave of the actual virus itself.”

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Professor Patrick McGorry is a founding director of National Youth Mental Health Foundation headspace. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

Prof McGorry described anxiety as “the driver of many forms of mental ill health” and “the gateway in a sense”.

According to a recent survey by YouGov, more than half of Australians are stressed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

More women (63 per cent) reported feeling stressed than men (51 per cent).

The research company polled 2085 people across the country over Easter, from April 9 to April 13.

Over three quarters (77 per cent) of respondents said they were stressed about not seeing their family, 71 per cent were unhappy about not being able to see their friends and 60 per cent had concerns about not being able to pay their bills.

Additionally, nearly half of people feared losing their job (49 per cent) or not being able to feed their family (48 per cent) while 38 per cent were stressed about losing their home.

“It's not unexpected,” Prof McGorry said.

“We know that major disasters wreak a pretty major toll on people's mental health. This is a disaster that's unprecedented in our lifetimes.”

Everyone is being challenged by #COVID19 & each of us will need new skills to look after our mental health.
TOP TIP: Services are available to help you. Those who live with mental illness will need more support & may need to use a phone & internet to connect📱 #InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/BFxkVi3ad5

— National Mental Health Commission (@NMHC) April 7, 2020

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He said when anxiety levels rise across the whole population, those who are at-risk can be pushed over the edge and in need of care.

“We think usually about 20 per cent of people, that will happen to in the context of say a bushfire or an earthquake, but this is much more serious than that,” he said.

“The responses – the isolation, the social distancing, the loss of economic effects, make this much more pervasive and more serious and more long-lasting.

“We've got time. We've got time to prepare just like we had time to prepare for the physical risks of the virus.

“We now have, I would say a few weeks, to really get our act together and strengthen our mental health systems so we can actually deal with this.”

The Productivity Commission's Mental Health inquiry will deliver its final report to the federal government by May 23.

Prof McGorry said the inquiry has shown “less than half of the people that have a need for care, even prior to the (COVID-19) disaster, were able to access it and the quality of care was not adequate”.

“Australia already knew and the Prime Minister, one of the first people to acknowledge this, the Victorian Premier, that the mental health system really needed to be greatly strengthened and this is even more so now,” he said.

He noted a Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System is also in progress.

That commission released a statement today acknowledging the “profound impact” the coronavirus pandemic has had on mental health and wellbeing.

“How we, as a society, respond to this challenge will be a testament to what we value most and who we seek to be,” Chair Penny Armytage said on behalf of the commissioners.

“This is a time for humanity, kindness and empathy.”

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Ms Armytage said there has already been a surge in the demand for “under pressure” mental health services.

“Now more than ever we must maintain our focus on designing a mental health system that is able to respond to current and emerging pressures,” she said.

“While these times, without question, require a rapid and well-resourced health response, we cannot forget how integral good mental health is to our overall wellbeing.”

She said the commission is dedicated to transforming the state’s mental health system into one placing people “at the forefront” and that is “responsive to an ever-evolving world, is trauma-informed and based on the best available scientific evidence”.