More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A YouTuber who tried to take his own life warns the toll the pandemic is taking on mental health could be as deadly as the virus itself.
River Thompson, from Margate, says the crisis will be having a detrimental impact on those who are struggling and may lead to some attempting suicide.
Sadly, there have already been cases of such deaths, including that of Emily Owen, 19, from Norfolk, whose family said she had been "deeply affected" by the pandemic.
Mr Thompson, who runs a YouTube channel offering support for people with mental health problems, believes there will be more.
The 21-year-old said: "Some people will be on their own and loneliness is a big killer, but this is not just affecting people who are lonely.
"It's people who have been furloughed, those who have lost their jobs, or struggling not seeing their loved ones and not being able to just talk.
"You can't go out, go to the gym or see someone. People will be feeling trapped in their own homes.
"The scariest place in the world for some people is their own mind. If they can't escape that at the moment it might cost them their lives."
'I can't stress enough how important it is to speak to someone' - River Thompson
Mr Thompson was 19 when he tried to take his own life in his bedroom while his family were downstairs.
He had reached rock bottom with his mental health and felt there was no other way out.
But after the unsuccessful attempt, and realising the devastation it would have caused his loved ones, he didn't try again, instead hiding his struggles from everyone.
Until one day, when he built up the courage to tell his mum and his whole world changed.
"I can't stress enough how important it is to speak to someone," he said.
"People are scared to talk about how they are feeling - it all comes down to stigma again."
Mr Thompson says mental health services and funding are inadequate in Thanet compared to other areas of the country, despite the district's high need.
He says the worry now is while people may not die from coronavirus, they might die anyway from taking their own lives.
"Sadly this will happen," he said.
"Coronavirus isn't the only killer. It's a scary world that we live in at the moment."
He says he is coping well and puts this down to not being on his own in isolation.
"What I would say to anyone struggling is don't give up," he said.
"These are unprecedented times but it's going to get better. It might feel like it's not but it will.
"You need to realise there is light at the end of the tunnel and you're not alone."
He says there are many helplines where people can access support which he lists on his YouTube channel, Opening Up With River T.
His series hosts talks from guest speakers, which has included former BBC chairman Michael Grade, Divina De Campo from RuPaul's Drag Race UK and experts in the field of mental health.
To watch, click here.
