Coronavirus: Young mums are struggling to cope, despite lockdown lift

In her east Melbourne surgery, Stacey Harris has been on the frontline during the pandemic, mostly dealing with the side-effects of the lockdowns.

In her east Melbourne surgery, Stacey Harris has been on the frontline during the pandemic not so much for dealing with COVID-19 as for the side-effects of the lockdowns deployed to tame the virus.

The Camberwell GP says a fortnight after the lockdown was largely lifted, she is still being overwhelmed by patients struggling to cope.

“I’m finding they’re struggling with fatigue, mental fatigue and anxiety,” she said.

“They aren’t clinically depressed or anxious but are exhibiting signs of feeling overwhelmed with feelings they can’t explain. I’m having many conversations with patients about exhaustion and fatigue.”

Dr Harris said even when blood tests performed on these patients returned as normal, the emotional issues did not disappear. “We’re doing lots of blood tests, finding out it’s normal, but the fatigue is directly related to the months in lockdown with things ‘not normal’,” she said.

Dr Harris said she was now diagnosing these patients with what she called “COVID fatigue”.

“It is not over just because it’s opening,” she said. “Yes, it’s all good news and it’s certainly helping a lot of people, but there are many still struggling, unable to take it all in, too bogged down in how bad this virus is still and that we shouldn’t be going out.”

Among those most traumatised by the lockdown, Dr Harris said, are young mothers. “I’ve had an uptake in mums with young babies and toddlers who are now too anxious to get out and meet with others, go to the parks.

“They’re petrified of what may happen if they go out and worried about their kids and babies mixing with other kids.”

A senior child psychiatrist told The Australian the lockdowns had impacted mental health services for at-risk women during and immediately after birth “partly because of the restrictions on social engagement. It’s a cliche but a true one … about the village raising the child,” the mental health expert said.

“Having to be stuck at home — hopefully with a partner, but not necessarily — with no other ancillary services; no grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends being able to visit.

“It’s been extremely challenging for all the mums.”

The mental health expert said perinatal inpatient beds for those more severely impaired with psychosis or very severe depression had been heavily restricted while therapeutic programs in hospitals had been limited to minimise the number of people in the ward, which had had adverse impact on treatment.