Spike in mental health services demand as lockdowns drag on

Image:shutterstock – ST.art

Prolonged public health restrictions in NSW and VIC have put unprecented pressure on existing mental health support services. As lockdown restrictions are extended in Greater Sydney for its seventh week and Melbourne enters its sixth lockdown the federal government has subsidized ten mental health pop-up clinics for Sydney and is continuing the funding of twelve clinics for Victoria.

The Monash COVID-19 Mental Health Research Group recently released their findings on the impact severe COVID-19 restrictions have had on the occurrence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Victorians during July and August last year.

Produced By: Tahlia Kraefft

Featured In Story: Jane Fisher, Finkel Professor of Global Health at Monash University

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 10 August 2021