Advice and information
Covid-19 support

Covid-19 and mental illness

Covid-19, also known as coronavirus or CV19, is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. On March 11 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the new virus a pandemic. In order to assist our supporters and staff, we have set up this online hub to provide practical support and information that is useful for people living with, or supporting people with mental illness. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

Latest updates

Use of the Mental Health Act

Because of the coronavirus crisis, professionals might have to change the way they use the Mental Health Act. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) have provided this guidance for professionals.

What is the test and trace service

The government are introducing the new test and trace service to help them trace the spread of the coronavirus and isolate new infections. Find out more about this service and what they will ask you.

Coronavirus and Clozapine

We've been getting lots of questions about what impact the coronavirus has for people who require blood tests when taking clozapine. Our advice team have written this blog to help.

Crucial role social care workers play has risen up the agenda, let’s make sure it stays there

Our Director of Operations explains why the recognition of the crucial role that social care plays in keeping people safe and well is not lost after the coronavirus crisis.

We face a mental health crisis – but we can come out of it stronger?

This week marks a month since the UK went into lockdown to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. In this blog Brian Dow, our deputy CEO, looks at what we’ve experienced so far and asks if we can come out of this crisis stronger.

Coronavirus: advice if you use direct payments for social care

This guidance is for anyone who receives direct payments to pay for their social care. It explains what you can use the direct payments for and whether the coronavirus outbreak is making any changes to that.

Temporary changes to the Mental Health Act

The Mental Health Act must continue to function effectively throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to ensure the safety, care, and treatment of people affected by mental illness.

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What you need to know

Covid-19: Advice for people living with mental illness

Living with severe mental illness during a pandemic can bring up a lot of problems. This information tries to help you ease or overcome some of these problems.

Read more Covid-19: Advice for people living with mental illness

Coronavirus Act 2020: what you need to know

Emergency legislation has been introduced by the government to help the country cope with the demands caused by the coronavirus outbreak. We explain how it may affect people living with severe mental illness.

Read more Coronavirus Act 2020: what you need to know

Managing your mental health

Managing anxiety during the outbreak

Coronavirus media coverage is everywhere. Here are some tips from our colleague Peer on how to manage your mental health in this non-stop news cycle.

Read more Managing anxiety during the outbreak

Top tips on managing your mental health

We asked our Communications & Marketing Advisory Panel how the crisis was impacting on them and for their tips on maintaining good mental health.

Read more Top tips on managing your mental health

Getting help for someone having a mental health crisis

If your relative has a mental illness, you may find that there are times when their mental illness gets worse. This page gives you information on who to contact if you feel that the situation has reached crisis and they need urgent help.

Read more Getting help for someone having a mental health crisis

Budgeting during the current outbreak

The Covid-19 outbreak has caused several people to lose their jobs or have a reduced income. This article our Mental Health and Money Advice service explains how to budget during the Covid-19 outbreak, so you feel more in control of your finances and mental health.

Read more Budgeting during the current outbreak

Urgent appeal

Our advice and information teams are working round the clock to help as many people as we can. Today we urgently need your help.

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Looking after someone else

Coronavirus: Advice for carers of those with severe mental illness

If you are a carer for someone living with mental illness, coronavirus can cause a lot of complications. Here's our guidance.

Read more Coronavirus: Advice for carers of those with severe mental illness

Social care and coronavirus – temporary changes to the law

Emergency legislation known as the Coronavirus Act 2020 has been introduced by the government to help the country cope with the demands caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Read more Social care and coronavirus – temporary changes to the law

Responding to unusual or worrying behaviour

If you have a friend or family member with a mental illness, some of their behaviour might worry you. This section suggests some ways to deal with unusual behaviour.

Read more Responding to unusual or worrying behaviour

Supporting someone with a mental illness

If you support someone with a mental illness you may face practical, financial and emotional problems from time to time. This page looks at tips and suggestions to help you support someone.

Read more Supporting someone with a mental illness

Looking after your physical health

5 ways to get moving at home

Staying fit and healthy during the covid-19 outbreak is important. This blog from our Physical Activity Manager has five simple tips to get you moving at home.

Wellbeing & physical health

Looking after your wellbeing and physical health can be beneficial to helping your mental health. Visit our information on drinking, smoking and geing active