News / mental health
Impact of lockdown measures on some of Bristol’s most vulnerable citizens
Many people with complex mental health needs who rely on routines to help them get by have had support suddenly pulled from under them overnight.
For some, it may be just going to the same café for a cup of tea every Friday, or a weekly group session, but such activities provided a vital structure for some of Bristol’s most vulnerable citizens, says the boss of Cintre.
Dr Claire Mould wants to highlight the plight of individuals who could all too easily fall through the gaps during the coronavirus pandemic, saying this group has been notably absent in mentions by the government in terms of the special measures and advice they are putting in place.
is needed now More than ever
She says Cintre, a charity which works with vulnerable adults with complex mental health needs, is having to completely change the way it works and rise to the challenge of supporting people through the crisis.
Dr Claire Mould (standing on the left) wants to highlight the plight of individuals who could all too easily fall through the gaps during the coronavirus pandemic
“We have spent the last 12 months doing a huge social isolation campaign and now we have to do a complete U-turn,” Claire tells Bristol24/7.
“Things are moving so fast that everyone is doing the best they can, but my particular frustration is there are a lot of individuals who are working on the frontline in social care who are being ignored. It would be good for people to spend some time stopping and thinking about people in the community with complex care needs. We have not heard much about those people who are struggling.
“Just imagine what the reality is for them. It’s really having an impact on already complex mental health needs just at a time when there is not the support there. Usually, there are support structures in place that we can access quite quickly, and those support structures have been removed.”
Cintre is working to provide support remotely to people living by themselves who are struggling. This is could be one-to-one sessions via video link or phone, a support WhatsApp group or signposting people to help available and reminding them that support lines such as the Samaritans are still operating throughout this time.
Cintre is having to find ways to provide more support remotely instead of in person
Health measures during the Covid-19 outbreak are more acute for Cintre’s service users, who are more susceptible to diseases than the general population.
“We are encouraging them to build up community links but in more remote ways,” explains Claire.
“Many of the people we support are used to going to particular groups and sessions each week and then overnight, those support sessions have stopped. We are still very much here but it is difficult.”
The charity is organising activities for residents during lockdown
For the people who live in Cintre’s residential homes, the challenge has been explaining why they are suddenly not allowed to go out and continue usual daily routines. “Routine is absolutely essential for many of our residents,” she says. “So this is really difficult for the individuals we support.”
Claire says the team made an early decision to close the homes to visitors and take rigorous action to protect the vulnerable residents. They have been hosting activities within the homes to keep people active and occupied.
She adds that staff wellbeing is also of paramount importance as the challenges of lockdown measures are also taking their toll on the people working to support some of Bristol’s most vulnerable citizens.
All photos courtesy of Cintre
Read more: How Knowle West community is coming together to get through pandemic
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