Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health - transition and recovery plan

5. Relationships

Covid-19 has tested relationships like few other experiences in our lifetimes. This has been in a range of different ways, from people being locked down together, resulting in tension, to people being separated from their loved ones. We also acknowledge the additional pressures on carers.

We want to provide the right help and support for any impacts on mental health as a result of relationships that have been changed or put under strain as a result of Covid-19 and lockdown.

• 5.1 - Relationship Support. We will monitor the uptake of the relationship helpline and associated counselling service established during lockdown, and work with The Spark and other stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness and take up of the helpline.

• 5.2 - Psychological Impacts. We will continue to work with the academic and wider research community on the psychological impacts of extended disruption to family relationships, personal relationships, and friendships.

• 5.3 - Relationship Trauma. We will continue to support work to reduce the impact of psychological trauma, whether it is caused by separation, loss, domestic violence and abuse, or other negative experiences related to the pandemic.

• 5.4 - Carers. We will continue our work with carer representative bodies to understand, and respond to, the mental health impacts of Covid-19 and lockdown on unpaid carers. This will involve tailoring mental health resources, and joining up with those who are delivering carer support locally, so that carers receive more effective support for their mental wellbeing