COVID-19: Support for patients and carers
Information about how the COVID-19 pandemic affects you and your care.
Health services are still running
It's important you know that healthcare services are still running and available to you, if you need them. You should still:
- seek urgent medical help if you think you have serious or life-threatening symptoms. Do this regardless of whether you think your symptoms are related to COVID-19 or not. (You can get help through your GP, NHS 111, 999 or your local hospital's emergency department)
- seek medical advice for any worrying symptoms, whether they are new or recurring
- continue with any medical treatments you are having and attend any hospital or GP appointments as requested.
Getting medical help might mean leaving your home, which might make you anxious. But if you don't seek help when you need it, you may put your health and even your life at risk.
Mental health and COVID-19
If you or someone you know is having treatment or taking medication to help manage a mental health problem, we have created these resources to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Medication and COVID-19:
Getting your prescription, taking your medication and attending medication appointments during the pandemic. - Remote consultations:
Mental health consultations are now happening on the telephone or online because of social distancing measures. - Going to hospital for physical health:
What to do if you or someone you are caring for needs to go to hospital because of a physical illness or injury. - Staying well and monitoring health at home:
Suggestions for ways to stay well and monitor our own and others’ health while we stay at home. - Alcohol and COVID-19:
How to manage your alcohol intake during this period, including information for those who have a history of alcohol addiction. - Eating disorders and COVID-19:
Information for people experiencing an eating disorder during the pandemic. - Self-harm and suicide:
Information for people thinking about self-harm or suicide during the pandemic. - Self-harm in young people – information for parents and carers:
Information for anyone concerned about a young person who might be self-harming during the pandemic. - Young people and COVID-19:
Suggestions for ways that young people can stay well and cope better with the COVID-19 pandemic. - Before, during or after pregnancy:
How the pandemic may affect women who are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant or have recently had a baby and are worried about their mental health. - Using drugs and COVID-19:
Information to help you reduce harm from the effects of the drugs that you use. - Autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD):
Supporting you to support someone with an ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of our existing mental health resources may be particularly relevant during the pandemic:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT):
A commonly used type of talking therapy which helps you examine your thoughts and behaviours. - Physical illness:
Dealing with the emotional impact it brings. - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
Information about this mental health condition which can be caused by traumatic experiences. - Mental health rehabilitation services:
Services to help you get your life back to how it was before you experienced mental illness. - Memory problems and dementia:
In addition to dementia, many things can affect our memory, including stress, depression, grief and even physical illnesses.
The National Problem Gambling Clinic has also produced the following guide:
Self-help for gambling during the pandemic
Public Health England's guidance
NHS England's guidance for young people and their carers
Support for people experiencing anxiety during the pandemic
RCPsych has created resources to help you if you, or someone you know, is experiencing increased anxiety as a result of the pandemic. Our resources include information for adults, young people and parents.