The global pandemic has brought about many changes in the UK. When COVID-19 first erupted and quickly spread across the globe, panic flooded the UK. Toilet paper became a commodity, and face-to-face interactions became a dream for millions around the country.
As statistics begin to rise once again, the acute fear experienced at the beginning of 2020 is creeping back into people’s lives. However, as 2021 progressed, relief spread throughout the country as the number of infected individuals dropped dramatically. In June, for example, figures showed that there were just over 2,000 cases of people contracting the virus per week. This was a massive drop from the 82,000+ weekly cases that arose in December. The pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) eased, the fear that gripped citizens so tightly began to loosen, and the stockpiling of toilet paper subsided. That is, until reports of the new variant, Omicron, splashed across the front page of every newspaper.
The Psychological Effects of Omicron on UK Citizens
The psychological impact of an entire nation living in fear is monumental and has increased people’s vulnerability to mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are at an all-time high as people struggle to deal with the harsh reality: they and their loved ones are at risk of becoming severely or morbidly ill. Everything they enjoy in life, from shopping sprees to hosting parties, is about to come to an abrupt halt once again as experts insist the country is heading toward another lockdown.
In the wake of Omicron, psychologists explain that the uncertainty of what the future holds will inevitably lead to increased anxiety. This is associated with unhealthy coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking or drug use. As mental illnesses are comorbid, anxiety can trigger people with existing conditions like eating or mood disorders. With fewer physical appointments with healthcare professionals, these illnesses have the potential to develop into life-threatening situations, worsening people’s distended fears of death.
Many psychologists are speaking out in the media, warning people to take care of their mental wellbeing. Common advice includes keeping to a routine, eating well, maintaining healthy sleeping habits, and socializing outdoors.
The Effect of Omicron on the National Health Service (NHS)
One of the main issues associated with the pandemic is the strain it puts on the NHS. Politicians have strategized and implemented rigorous measures in an effort to slow down the rate of hospitalization. However, experts predict that the NHS will quickly become overrun and understaffed if a new lockdown is not put into place over winter. They surmise that there will be 2,000 hospital admissions per day should another lockdown not take place.
The Prime Minister recently announced that every adult would be invited for their third booster vaccination by the start of the new year. While this is necessary to protect citizens from the virus, thereby alleviating some of the strain on the NHS, it also creates another problem. It puts the National Health Service under a different type of pressure as they struggle to meet the deadlines set.
A letter from the CEOs of the NHS and NHS Improvement has been sent to other NHS leaders dictating how they should handle the onset of Omicron. Some of the key directives include:
- Ensure the successful amplification of the COVID-19 vaccine program.
- Make COVID-19 treatments fully available to patients most at risk of developing severe symptoms and requiring hospitalization.
- Enable the maximum number of people to be discharged safely and quickly, while supporting people in their own homes where possible.
- Support patient safety in urgent care pathways across all services and manage elective care.
- Support staff and improve their accessibility.
There are currently only ten people who have been hospitalized due to Omicron thus far. However, as they expect this number to rise exponentially, medical professionals cannot overemphasize the imperative for stringent measures to be instituted quickly.
The Relationship Between Politics and Omicron
Britain is currently in turmoil. Soaring Omicron figures are sending waves of panic across communities—right before Christmas. While politicians promised that Christmas would not be “canceled,” it appears that if another lockdown is not imposed, more and more people will contract the virus and overburden the NHS.
As it stands, the public has minimal trust in the leading political party, particularly in its leader, Boris Johnson. Evidence of numerous social events taking place during lockdown last year has led to very few people being willing to heed the government’s advice. Psychologists are concerned that people will conclude that if the government doesn’t have to socially distance, they don’t either. Many citizens already assert that they will not adhere to the rules should a lockdown be announced.
These political views stand to put the country at even greater risk. The NHS could become inundated as more people fall victim to the virus’ grasp. Moreover, the future of the UK is unclear. This uncertainty breeds anxiety and depression, which can precipitate other problems such as self-harm and suicide.
The impact of Omicron can already be felt throughout the nation, and it is set to get worse. British citizens are returning to the state of doubt, fear, and despondency brought about by the highly contagious, potentially deadly coronavirus. This time, however, we have two years of experience, international research, and medical advancements in our favor.
