Lifting the lockdown: how will it affect our mental health?

The long term effects of lockdown are not clear yet but some fear it could have implications for the mental health of many people.

Some may be anxious about leaving their homes again following the easing of restrictions imposed at the start.

For some, could the lasting impact of self-isolating be worse than the lockdown itself?

You can watch Stuart Leithes story here, part of an ITV News Anglia series on Mental Health Awareness Week 2020.

It's been many weeks since the streets of Peterborough were busy with shoppers, workers and other visitors.

The national Covid 19 lockdown was announced by the Government back on the 23rd of March.

With everyone warned to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

But what impact has staying at home to save lives had on people's mental health? And as the Government begins to relax the restrictions how could that affect people's sense of wellbeing as we start to emerge from the lockdown?

Professor Barbara Sahakian is a member of the University of Cambridge's department of psychiatry.

The department has recently been involved in a new report calling for more research into the mental health impact of the lockdown.

She says it could have a big impact.

Mark Gatland is a psychotherapist based at Willingham near Cambridge.He believes some people will find it difficult to adapt to being able to spend more time in social situations again.

At the Bean Around coffee house in Peterborough owner Gareth Norman is unsure how social distancing will affect his business as more people return to the city centre.

He can only do takeaways and worries about the effect that might have on his staff.

People out and about have mixed feelings about easing restrictions.

After weeks of getting used to living in lockdown the long term mental health issues it could cause will only become apparent as we try to get back tolife as we knew it - before Covid 19.