Swansea University
In seeking to dispel the myth of an impending potential “tsunami” of psychological problems among “ordinary people”, Richard Bentall risks diminishing the “tornado” currently blowing through the care of people with severe mental health problems. People with schizophrenia living in the community have suffered from limitations on face-to-face contact with mental health professionals and others, almost certainly causing higher rates of relapse and hospital admission since the pandemic began, and inpatient mental health care has become even more restrictive because of Covid-imposed changes. In consequence, there is a serious risk that fewer people with schizophrenia will live independently post-pandemic, and institutional care will rise.