Covid lockdown: Increased mental health presentations in regional Victoria

Doctors are concerned the mental health impact of the latest lockdown in regional Victoria may be worse than previous lockdowns. Here’s why.

Western Victoria’s primary health network has experienced an increase in mental health presentations while calls for help to headspace have also increased. File picture: Liana Turner

An idea of how the recent seven-day lockdown in regional Victoria affected people’s mental health has emerged.

Western Victoria’s primary health network has reported an increase in mental health presentations.

“Anecdotally, doctors are seeing a lot more mental health issues in their consultations since the last lockdown,” Western Vic PHN spokeswoman and regional GP Dr Anne Stephenson said.

“Of real concern is the uncertainty as to whether the latest outbreak will spread to regional centres from Melbourne.”

Dr Stephenson said the lockdown, coming after weeks of things returning to normal, may have a bigger impact than previous lockdowns.

“While it’s too early to be specific, doctors are concerned that some people will be put under greater pressures as a result of the latest lockdown which may result in a deterioration in their mental health,” she said.

Head of eheadspace, a national mental health service for 12 to 25-year-olds, Dr Steven Leicester said they had seen an increase in demand for phone and online support since the start of the lockdown.

“It’s not unusual for young people to report the lockdown is having an effect on their mental health,” he said.

“We also know more than 12 months of Covid-related stress is impacting many young people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Mental health service Beyond Blue, however, said it had no increase in calls for help from regional Victoria.

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