In addition to the life-threatening physical health complications of COVID-19, the global viral infection also has major mental health consequences (United Nations, 2020). Its impact is causing major economic dislocations, with sudden unemployment and its knock-on effect upon household finances. In addition to this, there been uncertainty about personal and family health and the prohibition of personal contact with family outside the household and friends. Even those who have not experienced anxiety and depression previously have been challenged by the lockdown. This has spanned generations, from children through to older people, those in work or whose work was temporarily suspended and those not in work.
The contribution of public service staff and those who have kept food and household essentials flowing in the shops has been rightly acknowledged as ‘key’ work, and they have continued to be paid, while those who worked in the live arts and other cultural activities have been almost forgotten. Indeed, musicians and others whose talents we enjoy and enrich our lives are barely mentioned despite their income being impacted for the foreseeable future, with social distancing making the viability of concerts and theatres questionable and audiences reduced to about one-third of previous capacities. Yet, there is a growing body of evidence that the arts, including music, have health benefits, including on mental health and wellbeing (Fancourt and Finn, 2019).
The loosening of the lockdown worldwide has filled the media with comparisons of the differing arrangements analysed for their merits. The re-opening of schools in the UK has proved particularly contentious, especially as there is little indication of a more widespread return to normality regarding access to venues of all types, although the ‘new’ normal will come with expectations regarding minimising viral spread through defined personal behaviours. Widespread improved personal hygiene may have general health benefits in the form of reduced avoidable infections generally, and particularly colds and influenza in winter. Little et al (2015) found that handwashing or use of alcohol-based hand gels reduced the incidence of colds and influenza, symptom severity, duration of illness and the spread of infection within households.
It is often said that things are only appreciated once they are absent. The loss of the freedom to see families and friends whenever and wherever one chooses has heightened awareness of the value of friendships and family connections. Hopefully, this appreciation of sustaining relationships will be part of the new normal and provide an improved connectivity across communities, with greater recognition of the needs of the vulnerable, including older people, to feel included regardless of whether or not their relatives live locally.
‘Even those who have not experienced anxiety and depression previously have been challenged by the lockdown.’
The unequal COVID-19 mortality rates across age, gender, ethnicity and health status (Public Health England, 2020) have highlighted the imperative of health promotion to reduce avoidable risk associated with obesity and poor general health. The heightened risk of contracting COVID-19 may provide an incentive to enter a weight management regimen and improve general fitness, so that healthy ageing (World Health Organization (WHO), 2015) is the mantra across all community nursing practices, both for practitioners and their clients and families.