The Office for National Statistics in the UK published their findings of a study carried out in 2021 on the social impact of the pandemic on disabled people.
The main points from the study are:
- A larger proportion of disabled people (78%) than non-disabled people (69%), said they were either very worried or somewhat worried about the effect that the pandemic was having on their life;
- Disabled people more often indicated coronavirus had affected their life than non-disabled people in ways such as their health (35% for disabled people, compared with 12% for non-disabled people), access to healthcare for non-coronavirus related issues (40% compared with 19%), well-being (65% compared with 50%) and access to groceries, medication, and essentials (27% compared with 12%);
- Among people who indicated coronavirus affected their well-being, disabled people more frequently than non-disabled people specified that the coronavirus was making their mental health worse (46% for disabled people and 29% for non-disabled people), they are feeling like a burden on others (25% and 10%), they are feeling stressed and anxious (67% and 54%), or they are feeling lonely (49% and 37%);
- Disabled people had on average poorer well-being ratings than non-disabled people across all four well-being measures (life satisfaction, feeling that things done in life are worthwhile, happiness and anxiety).
- For both disabled and non-disabled people, life satisfaction and happiness ratings were poorer in February 2021 compared with a period prior to the coronavirus pandemic;
- Disabled people tended to be less optimistic than non-disabled people about life returning to normal in the short term: around a fifth (20%) of disabled people compared with over a quarter (27%) of non-disabled people thought that life will return to normal in less than six months;
- Positive sentiment towards the vaccine was high among both disabled and non-disabled people: 94% of both disabled and non-disabled people reported they had now either received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, were awaiting one, or would be likely (very or likely) to have a vaccine if offered. (Source: https://www.ons.gov.uk)
The nature of disability is difficult, but it's even more difficult when it comes to something like a pandemic, because where people with a disability are already isolated, in a pandemic, it makes them even more isolated.
Disability, the Pandemic and Mental Health
What this report shows, is that the pandemic and mental health is very much an issue for people, even more so for people with a disability. Where non-disabled people are able to rationale and find a place for the virus, those with a mental illness do not have the capacity to do that.
They may feel scared, and when they fail to understand it can turn to fear. Whilst none of us are free of stress, it is important to remember the lesser groups can struggle more. It is important to come together, to be patient and understanding and for others to act as a support for those who need the help.
Disability and being 'different'
We deal with a disability that makes us different. Where others may see us as intense and awkward, what we need is kindness, fairness and understanding. In the pandemic that isn't up for negotiation, it needs to be a given.
If the shoe were on the other foot, others would expect the same back.
It is so important that we read blogs like this, to better understanding of how the pandemic has affected us, but also to enable a wider appreciation of how disabled people have been (and no doubt continue to be) disproportionately affected.
Thank you for posting it.
You're welcome. Thank you yes, these blogs do matter, and are important to everyone, but being disabled and having to deal with mental issues means I and others will struggle more to cope.
In the pandemic there has been a massive dip in mental health, which is in its boots made worse by some of the decisions having been made in Covid-19 in the UK.
There will always be a social impact on everything we do and Covid-19 is no exception.