Covid 19 has had lasting impacts on the emotional and mental wellbeing of many people and a new project aims to help some of the people who have been hardest hit.
Derbyshire County Council has approved funding of £80,000 to enable a two year project to deliver emotional wellbeing support to people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
The country wide project, funded from Derbyshire County Council’s Covid-19 Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) budget, will be delivered by Relate Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
The funding is for the delivery of emotional wellbeing counselling support for clinically vulnerable people and it will run for two years starting in March 2022.
The money will enable up to 1,200 assessment and counselling sessions to be carried out.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said: “Poor mental health impacts on individuals, families, communities and the economy.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a majorly damaging impact on mental health and there is clear evidence to show that this has been an even greater issue for people classed as being clinically extremely vulnerable.
“This new project will support this group in recognising, and addressing, any emotional or mental wellbeing issues, and will hopefully help to prevent them from becoming long term problems.”
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the whole population, but more so in the case of people classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV).
A 2021 report from The Health Foundation, found that people who were asked to shield during the Covid 19 pandemic were more likely to suffer from mental health conditions than the general population.
It also said that several of the medical conditions included within the CEV criteria are known to be associated with an increased likelihood of mental health conditions even in normal times.
Amy Harris, Chief Executive Officer for Relate Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, said: “We are so grateful to receive this funding and for the needs and wellbeing of the most vulnerable to be recognised and valued in this way.
“We have all been through Covid-19 together, but everyone’s experiences have been so different, none more so than the clinically extremely vulnerable. The team at Relate look forward to working alongside Derbyshire County Council and delivering this support.”
Derbyshire County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Team are also supporting the delivery of the new project and will offer help for people who may require additional or longer term support.
The team use a range of coaching and motivational techniques to help people improve their lives, health and well-being.