The experience of the pandemic has had an impact on all our mental health and wellbeing. Essential workers, those shielding or recovering from Covid, experiencing bereavement, furloughed, amidst other life changing events such as having a baby, people with existing mental health issues - many would have experienced the pandemic in different ways. That experience may have also changed at different stages of the pandemic. Some may have experienced increased anxiety during lockdowns, for others the impact on mental wellbeing might have been worse during easing of restrictions.

This session will provide a brief overview of what we know about the impacts of the pandemic to mental health at a population level in the region, along with examples of regional strategies or interventions to mitigate that impact.

Outline of the event:

• Overview of impact in the North East and Yorkshire region. Becky James and Laura Hodgson, OHID North East and Yorkshire
• At risk groups – Severe mental illness diagnosis and higher risk factors for COVID outcomes. Jeff Powell Davies, NECS
• Moral injury and mental wellbeing in essential workers. Catherine Guy,
• Durham & Teesside research on lockdown babies and families research. Rebecca Scott, Middlesbrough Council
• Examples from the voluntary sector (tbc)
• Discussion and Q&A