Covid-19: How are we coping? Survey results week 2

Healthwatch Lincolnshire are undertaking a survey of the public to find out their views and experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.  This report covers the findings of the second week of the survey, when they received 340 responses.

The report compares the findings of week 2 to those in week 1.  It found that people were less likely to feel concern for others and more likely to feel impatient to resume a normal life. People were less likely to feel frustrated at mixed and negative messages being given through fake news and media but were more likely to reflect current messages in the media in terms of what was happening and next steps. People were particularly keen to know when lockdown might be eased or ended.

People were more likely to express concerns about mental health in terms of anxiety, depression, the impact on independence of long-term lockdown (fear of going back to normal) and ultimately the lack of services to support people.

What was clear in these responses was the link between how lockdown measures were imposed and maintained, and the public’s perception of how these impacted on their health and wellbeing. In the main this was either people flouting lockdown measures were ‘creating a health risk to society’, or that ‘fairness and equity’ in people’s behaviour was socially unacceptable and needed to be addressed, this had a subtle influence on mental health, ‘what is fair and what is right’.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire are going to continue to publish weekly reports about their survey findings.