The Covid-19 pandemic and mental health in Liverpool: What disabled people told us

Healthwatch Liverpool wanted to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people’s mental health.  They undertook a series of projects, including one on disabled people.  They undertook interviews with eight disabled people.

Prior to the pandemic, people with physical disabilities and long-term health conditions already faced disabling barriers constructed within society, health inequalities and disproportionate mental distress. The Covid-19 outbreak has concentrated pre-existing hardship and introduced additional constraints.

This research indicates that such people have experienced a continued lack of consideration across decision making throughout the pandemic. This was highlighted particularly by those who have been clinically vulnerable and have felt that their health has been negatively impacted by efforts to bring society back to ‘normal’ for the less vulnerable population.

Some participants experienced acute social isolation, whereas others found themselves confronted with a pre-existing lack of social contact, as very little changed. Those with mental health conditions found their symptoms to be exacerbated whilst support services became overwhelmed and financial worries increased further for others, leaving participants in distress.

Disruptions to healthcare access had a profound impact on those in regular contact with health services, with participants reflecting the knock-on impact that missing regularly required care can have on general wellbeing, particularly for those left in pain. Inaccessibility of mental health services continues to be an issue for participants and those who did seek formal support were left feeling worse-off following extensive waiting periods. Although the participants involved were able to develop some methods to manage the mental health impacts of the pandemic, the ability to do so was recognised as unequal, further highlighting the mental burden experienced by many.

Overall, the findings of this project demonstrate how crucial it is for healthcare providers, policy makers and commissioners to:

• understand the mental health experiences of disabled people throughout the pandemic, and beyond;
• support their inclusion within policy, planning, service delivery and review;
• minimise long-term consequences and prevent further exclusions as Liverpool works to recover from the impact of the pandemic.