• Many people have experienced some degree of trauma this past year from losing loved ones and not being able to say goodbye to them, to being impacted by repeated lockdowns, health fears, uncertainty around the pandemic, the horrific headlines every day, the financial difficulties - it has been a relentless bad news story that has impacted on many people in different ways.
• It’s vital not to underestimate how the ramifications of this collective stress could play out in some people. The World Health Organisation issued a warning, declaring that the world must prepare for mass mental trauma for years to come, following the pandemic.
• One mental health professional who is keen to talk about this issue is Owen O’Kane, a leading Psychotherapist, a former NHS Mental Health Clinical Lead and the author of Ten Times Happier. He has been campaigning for the recognition of a potential new mental health complication, which he has coined Post Pandemic Stress Disorder (PPSD).

What is post pandemic stress disorder?

• Similar to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), PPSD is a hypothesis that predicts that in the months after we come out of the pandemic , there will be some people experiencing a trauma reaction. This could look similar to how PTSD develops in the months and years after a traumatic event.
  Is post pandemic stress disorder a diagnosis?
• It's important to emphasise that PPSD is not an official medical diagnosis.
• Often anxiety, depression, anger, fear and panic, are symptomatic of something else going on. A lot of these symptoms maybe directly linked to what's been going on over the past year.

Know your rights

• If you find your employer being unsympathetic to your situation, be aware that the legislation is on your side here, giving anyone experiencing a long-term mental health issue, protection under the Equality Act 2010. This means all employers must make reasonable adjustments to work practices and provide other aids and adaptations for those in need. Beyond statutory health and safety duties, employers also have a general obligation to take reasonable care of the health and safety of employees in the workplace, including their mental wellbeing. Your employer should adhere to it. If you think this isn’t being met, it might be time to speak to HR and obtain legal advice.

If you require employment law advice contact Irina Polyakova on 01484 821 300 or at irinapolyakova@eatonsmith.co.uk