Impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of Croydon residents

This report is the result of a project between Healthwatch Croydon and three T-level (Technical-level) students from Croydon College. They considered issues concerning health and social care services in spring 2020 and selected a theme to explore. They then devised the methodology, piloted and ran the survey, collected the results and prepared an analysis of their findings before completing their time with us in August 2020. The Healthwatch Croydon team led by the Volunteer Lead supported them in work and have completed their work with the report shown here.

The key issue they were researching was how Covid-19 was affecting people’s mental health. This report looks back at the experience of the first lockdown, where requirements that we may have now become accustomed to were new.

Due to the Covid-19 situation, the students could not conduct any interviews, but they did receive 115 responses to their survey. This found:

• The majority were concerned about contracting Covid-19 and returning to work and school.
• Most knew what to do if they experience Covid-19 symptoms, but 1 in 6 did not.
• Around 60% of respondents said their mental health and wellbeing had been affected.
• Access to a range of services could have been better.
• Of those whose mental health was affected only a few sought help and support.
• The resulting work and financial situation had created stress for some.