The NHS predicts that Covid-19 will cause a rise in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The NHS strategy unit has forecast that there could be as many as 230,000 new PTSD referrals between 2020 and 2023, which suggests an increase of about 77,000 cases a year on average. It also says the NHS is facing the biggest backlog of those waiting for mental health help in its history.
Experts believe frontline health care staff members are most at risk, as well as Covid-19 patients who needed hospital care. The predicted rise of cases is also based on the effects of the pandemic on domestic abuse victims, children and young people, relatives of Covid survivors and those who have lost loved ones to the disease.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by extremely stressful, frightening or distressing events. In the popular imagination, it is largely associated with soldiers returning from war, but anyone exposed to a traumatic event can develop the disorder.
During the first wave of the Covid pandemic, a poll of 709 intensive care staff across six NHS hospitals in England found that two in five people reported symptoms of PTSD – more than twice the rate found in military veterans with recent combat experience.
In June last year, The Royal College of GPs predicted a “huge surge” of PTSD cases based on the toll the pandemic had already taken on patients’ mental health, but the exact numbers are still unknown. The NHS does not publish a total figure for all PTSD referrals in England, so it isn’t possible to directly compare the modelling of new cases to current figures.
However, there are concerns that some suffering from PTSD do not recognise the symptoms of the disorder and thus fail to report the condition or seek help. This situation is exacerbated by the stigma surrounding PTSD and the popular misconception that it affects only members of the armed forces. As with all areas of mental health, a greater public awareness and understanding is needed.
If you are struggling with your mental health, find local sources of support on this website.
