United Kingdom

According to Ms. Suky Kaur, who holds the position of Head of Policy at BACP, the coronavirus is one of the biggest current challenges facing counselling and counsellors in the United Kingdom. The role of professional therapists seems more important than ever as the nation grapples with the psychological impact of changing work and family circumstances, financial insecurity, isolation, bereavement, societal breakdown, and the ongoing uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 outbreak (see Kaur 2020). To what extent and how long-term the crisis will affect the mental health of the population is still unknown. However, it can be assumed that the demand for psychological therapies will increase significantly over a longer period of time. Moreover, the analyses of the Office of National Statistics confirm that the crisis has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of the population. 49.6% of respondents report having a “high” level of anxiety (see ibid.). Demographic analysis has also demonstrated that the virus has a greater impact on poorer people and families and BAME communities, so these groups will need targeted psychological support in the coming months and years. Further, the physical distancing measures so necessary for public health have continued to exacerbate mental health problems (see ibid.). This has had particularly sad consequences for the bereaved, who have not been allowed to say goodbye to their loved ones or attend funerals. This may lead to an increase in complex grief reactions in the coming months.

There has also been a sharp increase in domestic violence – The number of calls to HelpLine has increased by 700% in a single day – so there is an urgent need to expand the provision of specialist support for those affected (see Kaur 2020).

The anxiety, uncertainty, and loss of routine brought on by the crisis also have a profound impact on children and their development. The most recent Department for Education summary report on school attendance in England since the start of the lockdown shows that less than 5% of vulnerable children currently attend school (cf. Kaur 2020). Children from poorer families, who are more likely to have existing mental health problems or live in overcrowded accommodation, are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences of school closures and socially distancing restrictions (cf. ibid.). Furthermore, broader economic impacts of the Corona crisis have also led to severe psychological distress, with increased job insecurity and personal debt. According to the estimates of insolvency experts, half a million British businesses are at risk of collapse. Many workers are being asked to take pay cuts, work reduced hours or consider sabbaticals to help companies limit the number of redundancies. This is undoubtedly another factor contributing to the strain on mental health (see Kaur 2020). Quite a few counsellors and psychotherapists are already playing an important role on the front lines of the epidemic, providing support – sometimes on a voluntary basis – to vulnerable people, including medical personnel and other key workers. However, several health care providers, private physicians, and charities have also experienced funding cuts and a decline in the number of sessions as social isolation measures have come into effect (see Kaur 2020). As the impact of the crisis grows, the demand for therapeutic support will continue to increase, and so BACP’s goal is to support the government in establishing a long-term plan to ensure that this need is met in collaboration with professional associations and mental health service providers (cf. ibid.).

Following on from this, it must be mentioned that the distancing measures may make online therapy or online counselling a new future trend in the United Kingdom (cf. Kaur 2020).