The coronavirus pandemic has led to a 50 per cent increase in medical referrals to mental health professionals in Essex.

Since March, the county as recorded its highest ever number of referrals as restrictions have left people living in isolation.

Director of public health, Dr Mike Gogarty said: “Early data reveals that as a country, anxiety has risen and wellbeing has fallen as a result of Covid-19, and Essex is no different, which is obviously very concerning.

“Our own research suggests that the rates of depression for adults in the county may rise from affecting 11.1 per cent of the population to 22.6 per cent with anxiety levels possibly rising from 18 per cent to 21.6 per cent.

"This would take the total population of those with common mental health concerns from 128,000 individuals to 195,000 individuals.

“Whether you are worried about money, have lost loved ones, have been feeling anxious about the pandemic, feeling depressed, stressed or isolated, we understand and we are here for you.”

In response, ECC is launching Mental Health Essex, a targeted, countywide campaign that aims to reach those most at risk of suffering with mental health issues as a result of Covid-19, providing information and support.

The campaign uses local insight to target specific groups that have been identified as being most affected by the pandemic, and who may be suffering more with their mental health.

Cabinet member for health and adult social care, Cllr John Spence said: “Mental illness is a scourge. Once someone’s life is blighted by it, it is so hard to shake free. So let’s do the things that stop us getting ill. Getting exercise, meeting people as far as we are allowed to and eating well all make a real difference. Let’s remove the shame of mental illness, so that when people are struggling, they don’t hide it but quickly seek the help they need, so what starts as a problem does not become an emergency.”