Long COVID
What is long COVID?
Long COVID (or post covid condition) is emerging as a set of symptoms faced by people that have recovered from COVID-19 who continue to experience difficulties. Dealing with ongoing physical health issues can also impact on mental health, leading to anxiety or low mood. It might also affect the ability to work or live life to the full.
We are increasing our understanding about how long COVID affects people all the time but we know that this can have a significant negative impact on people’s mental health.
Signs of long COVID
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that over 200 symptoms have been reported by people experiencing long COVID. The most common signs are:
- Fatigue
- Difficulties in thinking (often described as ‘brain fog’)
- Shortness of breath
Other symptoms can include:
- Anxiety or depression
- Difficulty speaking
- Chest pain and muscle aches
- Loss of smell and/or taste
- Fear of illness
- Traumatic memories of ill health/isolation
- Intolerance of uncertainty
How we can support your employee/member
Whilst knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 develops on a daily basis, we have a wealth of experience working with long term conditions, complex health needs, anxiety, depression and traumatic experiences.
We can help people to work through the distressing psychological symptoms that can stem from long COVID. Psychological therapies could include:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Counselling
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Psychiatric care
Psychiatric care can be provided where it is clinically appropriate and if this is in the agreed support plan for your member/employee. Psychiatry will provide a comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, treatment recommendations and medication where appropriate and ongoing review as required.
