Mental Health and Neurodiversity in the Pandemic
Over 2 years on from the announcement of the first national lockdown, it is important to reflect on the impact this period has had on our mental health as we try to navigate the ‘new normal’. These periods of lockdown have led to significant changes to routine, forcing us to isolate ourselves from our friends and loved ones for extended periods, and significantly impacting on the self-care strategies contributing to our wellbeing.
The pandemic lockdowns left us unable to see our family and friends for months, even years in some circumstances. Considering social support has a significantly positive affect on our mental health, including increasing resilience, it is no surprise that there were increases in mental health challenges such as depression and loneliness due to the prolonged isolation.
Keeping active became increasingly difficult, with many finding it hard to replace their regular gym/sports sessions or daily step counts made by commuting and travelling. Sleep patterns became harder to maintain as normal routines and daily structures were lost. To manage these changes in structure, or lack of routine due to being furloughed / out of work, many resorted to unhealthy eating and drinking habits to help cope. Absence of regular exercise, good sleep, and a healthy diet can all significantly affect energy levels, focus, motivation, and experiences of anxieties and low mood, further contributing to increases in mental health challenges.
Our workdays also changed, with over 9 million jobs being put on the furlough scheme and most others having to adapt to working from home. This disruption from our regular routines led to feeling out of rhythm and worries about the changes in environment. The lack of physical separation between work and home led to it becoming increasingly difficult to mentally compartmentalise them, leading to some finding it harder to ‘switch off’ from the stresses of work, or finding themselves working significantly longer hours without taking breaks. Additionally, lack of communication with colleagues led to further work stress and staff feeling more isolated and less supported. These challenges have led to many feeling overwhelmed and increased the risk of burnout.
Image Source: Office of National Statistics
The Effect of the Pandemic on Neurodivergent Individuals’ Mental Health
For neurodivergent individuals, the pandemic lockdown challenged conscious and unconscious coping strategies leading to additional challenges. Neurodiversity refers to the different ways a person’s brain processes information. It is commonly used as an umbrella term to describe individuals with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder), Dyscalculia, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Conditions.
There is growing evidence of a link between neurodiversity mental health challenges. For example, there is considerable evidence of increased rates of co-occurrence between neurodiversity and rates of depression and anxiety.
Roughly 40% of those diagnosed with Autism have symptoms of at least one anxiety disorder at any time, compared with up to 15% in the general population.
Those with ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption.
This is especially valid in settings where individuals are not given an opportunity or the tools to work in a way that suits them, including adjusting to unexpected changes in lockdown restrictions.
The start of the pandemic caused an abrupt change in normal routine. Many neurodivergent individuals can struggle with sudden changes without warning, finding this extremely unsettling and anxiety provoking. These regular rhythms coming to a sudden end left many struggling to adapt to the new normal, and without adequate support.
Neurodivergent employees often have adjustments in place in their workplace to support them with challenges, empowering them to work in the way that suits them, and giving them the confidence to focus on their strengths and thrive. However, pandemic isolation challenged individuals’ routine support pathways, leaving many without adjustments at home and not knowing who or how to ask for help. This left countless feeling helpless and caused significant anxiety.
For many neurodivergent individuals, social interaction can be a considerable source of energy and can have a significantly positive impact on mood. From a work perspective, that interactive social element of communicating with colleagues can positively benefit the processing of ideas. As a result, pandemic isolation may have caused additional mental health challenges for those isolating alone and unable to communicate with others.
The additional anxieties and pressures placed on neurodivergent individuals in these periods of isolation due to changes to routine and lack of support led to neurodiverse characteristics being exaggerated, causing further challenges and further negatively impacting on mental health.
Support
How can you help yourself?
Practise self-compassion
Set boundaries between work and home
Create a daily routine
Exercise
Healthy eating
Work on your sleep patterns
Social support – from work and home
Make time for rituals and interests/hobbies
Journaling thoughts
What can you do to help others?
Manager training on mental health
Engage with employees and what support they need
Encourage employees to take regular breaks
Develop a workplace buddy scheme for support and advice
Keep employees feeling connected: As well as formal meetings, link teams together for informal, outside work chats to connect socially
Provide counselling and mental health support services
Harry Saville
Solutions Partner at Lexxic
Learn more about neurodiversity and mental health, take a look at our blog post: Neurodiversity and Mental Health