Mr. Martin Rogan:

Across our entire population, people are at different levels in terms of their understanding, their comfort with risk and the adaptations they have had to make. We recognise that some people who use mental health services have sometimes found it difficult to adhere to the social distancing limits. That has been a challenge and quite a concern for family members who have made contact with us. Going into lockdown was probably a bit easier. It was a simple message to stay at home. Now it is a graded message and people have to adapt to that and take back more personal responsibility. Sometimes we are inclined to surrender decision-making by saying: "An expert told me to do the following and that is what I will do." We are now at a point where we are depending much more on the individual along with their family contacts and their local communities, including the business community, to take responsible steps to stay safe and not to allow the virus to return.

Wearing masks can be uncomfortable for some people and can induce a degree of discomfort or anxiety.

What has been really important has been the sense of sonder. Sonder is where we appreciate that other people have complex lives and, in a mental health context, that this is not a solo pursuit, that it is a collective, pooled exercise and that when we care for each other, which we signal by wearing a mask in a public space or on public transport, it is a courtesy to others and it is reflected back. That bond has been really powerful and has been quite protective and supportive of people's mental health over these past weeks. We need to retain that as we go into the next stages. There are many supports for people who are concerned about anxiety and lots of good information on websites, which can provide practical solutions on how to overcome any sense of fear that people have. Paul also has some references on this.