Mental Health Considerations

I am a full time carer for my partner who has borderline personality disorder and the lockdown has caused a lot of unnecessary stress on my partner. Now what I mean by this is, my partner is too scared to actually go out because on the first day of lockdown I actually got pulled over by the police when I was washing the car at a nearby jetwash. (I should point out I don't have TV and as such I wasn't aware that the lockdown had been put in place in day one) I had gloves and some basic ppe and our car is a Motability car so i could definitely not afford the bill should the caustic bird excrement cause paint damage.

Because of this my partner now is reluctant to even leave the house for exercise or even to take our dog out, for fear that the police will pull her up.

Why the contribution is important

This is a very hot button issue because I can imagine thousands of not more people across Scotland are probably in the same boat. So because of this. I advise that the police be sent a list of all people classified as vulnerable (my partner 100% falls into that) and unless those people are clearly flouting the restrictions, they should be left well alone. When you have a personality disorder or some kind of mental instability, the police inherently become a source of paranoia for those people. And then it's down to carers like myself to have to try and rehabilitate said people so that when the restrictions are lifted, these people will actually want to leave their home instead of being mentally scarred by their partner being pulled up by the police. After I explained everything to the officer in question in a calm manner, we both agreed that everything was fine but not to do it again. Ultimately the conversation was not necessary and now my partner fears leaving the house at all or me leaving the house to get essentials.

by Eerendialis on May 05, 2020 at 05:14PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 7 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Penchrystona May 05, 2020 at 22:13

    On the wider issue of mental health I have been pleased to hear reassurance from the Scottish Government that it is being addressed. However, the helplines, websites and psych education has limited use and is best for those with mild symptoms.

    With severe depression currently a GP is limited to adjusting medication. Under normal circumstances they would encourage patients to see a counsellor, engage in a hobby that involves other people, and have more personal connections. As a species we are designed for relationship and when we are removed from relationships it is detrimental to our mental health.

    Currently counselling is undertaken by telephone or video and this is a very poor substitute for face to face therapy.

    In the prison system solitary confinement is utilised as a severe punishment but in our community we have people who live alone. They have done nothing wrong but they have been isolated from family, friends, activities and the life they enjoyed prior to lockdown.

    The longer lockdown continues the greater the threat of increased number of suicides or significant increase in mental illness.

    Whilst there are many households with four or more people who are able to enjoy family time, those households with one person (not only the elderly) have no direct contact with another human being,

    To prevent a worsening of this situation there is a need for small groups of people to be able to interact. E.g family groups who do not live together. In addition where travel is by private car it should be possible for these family groups to meet even where they need to travel some distance. E.g in parts of the country a limit of 50 miles may not be sufficient to travel to the next town. By enabling families who do not live together to gather in one home to share a meal could help rectify some of the inequalities and harm that this lockdown is producing.

  • Posted by Cathy_Baldwin May 06, 2020 at 01:00

    I so agree. New Zealand allowed single people to meet with one other as a buddy through lock down. The governments of the UK and nations are killing their population's mental health. Those of us who are disabled, single, alone, with pre-existing mental health conditions, far from family, with no partner or close family or friends in our household, you are making us ill. Spare a thought for those not living in a nuclear family 2.4 situation. You are imposing tough sentences usually used for severe criminals - solitary confinement. If you want to reduce the population density of the UK, this is the way to do it through other killers like suicide.

  • Posted by roobie May 08, 2020 at 09:37

    I have been appalled by the lack of provision for mental illness throughout the lockdown. Resources were put ijin place for mental health, suitable for protecting one's mental health and coping with mild issues. At the same time psychology was paused across Scotland and instesd od adding in extra provision for the mentally ill, our services were hugely curtailed.

    Urgent referrals were consistently downgraded to routine - as routine appointments were fully put on hold , ignoring the medical opinion of gps trying to access urgent help for highly vulnerable patients.

    As a consequence I have been unable to access any help and walk a fine line on a daily basis between life and death.

    The government failed entirely to consider the mentally ill - one of the most marginalised and unvalued sectors of society.

    One thing that absolutely needs to change as a result of this crisis, is financial parity of funding for mental and physical illness and health.

  • Posted by Christina May 09, 2020 at 21:53

    I also have BPD and just like your partner I'm in constant 'fear' of the police. I have nightmares of arguing with them. After in real life being told to not sit on a bench I went home in tears. Our brains work differently and our fears seem very real. I live all alone and I have nobody close to talk to. Every time I go outside I look around me constantly, imagining police coming from every corner. And I don't trust myself from having a sudden outburst and then perhaps they might give me a fine for arguing. So most of the time I stay indoors, in bed. Feeling my mind deteriorating. My dissociationg is getting worse as well.
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