The number of cases of psychosis has risen in England over the past two decades as more people suffer from hallucinations, delusional thinking and other symptoms due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
NHS data indicates that there was an increase of 75% in people who were referred to mental healthcare services for their first episode of psychosis, between April 2019-April 2021.
This increase continued all summer with 12,655 referred in July 2021, an increase of 53% over 8,252 in June 2019.
According to data analyzed by Rethink Mental Illness, a large part of the increase was seen in the past year after the first national lockdown. In May 2021, more than 13,000 referrals were made. This is 70% more than the May previous when there were 7,813 referrals.
The charity urges the government to invest in early intervention for schizophrenia to prevent further mental health problems that could lead to long-term disability.
According to the statistic, the first concrete evidence of the severity of the pandemic is provided by statistics.
An earlier study found that anxiety and depression worldwide increased significantly in 2020. There were an estimated 76m more cases of anxiety and 53m more cases of major depressive disorders. Researchers found that young and women were particularly affected.
Psychosis may involve seeing and hearing things other people don't (hallucinations), or developing beliefs that are not grounded in reality (delusions). These can be very distressing. Psychosis can occur as a result of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. However, it can also be a sign that there is a mental illness.
Rethink Mental Illness, despite the pressure on mental health services continues to highlight the importance of quick access to treatment to prevent future episodes of psychosis or reduce the risk of severe mental illness.
A good guideline for anyone experiencing a first episode of psychosis is to have an assessment done within two weeks. The charity is concerned that more people may have to wait for treatment if there is an increase in referrals.
Brian Dow, Rethink Mental Illness' deputy chief executive, stated: Psychosis can have devastating effects on people's lives. It is crucial to get treatment quickly to avoid further mental illness that could lead to long-term recovery.
This alarming increase in the number of first episodes of psychosis is cause for concern. It is concerning that we are well past the initial shocks of the crisis and the number of referrals continues to be so high. This sharp rise in referrals raises concerns about the stress the younger generation has faced during the pandemic.
Our mental health has been affected by the pandemic and requires a new approach. To meet this new demand, dedicated funding must be provided for frontline services. Otherwise, thousands could suffer a devastating loss.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that: It is crucial everyone has the right support at the right time. We are delivering the fastest expansion of mental health services in NHS History, supported by an additional 2.3bn per year by 2023/24, which will benefit hundreds of thousands more people.
We have also invested 500m more this year in people whose mental health was particularly affected by the pandemic. All NHS mental health professionals have set up 24/7 emergency helplines that have responded to around three million calls since the outbreak.
My head said to me to stop hearing voices
Tom Dunning (30) has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (SAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and PTSD.
When I was 22-23, I experienced my first symptoms of psychosis. After finishing my degree, my head said that I should deal with the voices. They were a daily occurrence that made me feel afraid of myself. I didn't believe anything was wrong, so I couldn't tell anyone how it felt.
My childhood was filled with bullying. Now, I feel like my mental health is bullying me. Everybody around me noticed my differences and suspected something was wrong, but I was afraid to admit it. I finally saw my GP. It was the first time I felt I needed support, but also the first time I realized it was something I could do.
