After coronavirus must come huge improvement to our mental health system

The daily tallies of infections and deaths, the suspension of sporting and social activities, business and school closures, job losses and the need to isolate are putting incredible strain on many individuals and households. From the moment you leave home, the shuttered shops and empty streetscapes are a powerful reminder of the all-pervading extent of this crisis. It is not for the faint hearted, and yet we must all deal with its consequences.

Extra funding announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison for services to help those with mental health issues and victims of family violence is a welcome step. While the physical risk of being infected by the coronavirus is the immediate danger at hand, the tremendous emotional strain many in our community are being put under will ripple though people’s lives for years to come.

The stress is already starting to surface. Lifeline, which experienced a 10 to 15 per cent rise in calls over summer due to the bushfires, is being hit with another increase in people contacting it, taking about 3000 calls a day. Kids Helpline, which caters for five-year-olds to 25-year-olds, has also had surging numbers of calls.