The impact of the coronavirus lockdown - and the potential impeding end of lockdown restrictions - on mental health is an important, and complex issue. Argus columnist Jon Powell looked at the issue.

MENTAL health charity Mind Cymru has said it is concerned about how some sectors of the community, some who have not left their homes since March, will deal with coming out of a lockdown scenario.

Simon Jones, head of policy at the charity, said: "Lockdown has been a significant part of everyone's life for close to three months now, and coming out of that is going to be difficult for some people.

"It is important we understand the challenges people may face in getting back to something approaching normality - many will be experiencing anxiety about coronavirus and being near other people again."

He added: "There needs to be action and investment to ensure support is in place for people who need it, when they need it."

Newport-based psychotherapeutic counsellor and coach Clare Legge has also spoken out about the situation.

"After a few weeks of lockdown it became abundantly clear that this wasn’t a bad dream, it was real, and we didn’t know how long it was going to last," she said. "That in itself was a great source of anxiety.

"Whilst some were able to use the time constructively to take stock of life, others as key workers pressed on, whilst a proportion of the community rebelled and disobeyed the laws.

"No one really likes boundaries, unless they’re of our own choosing."

South Wales Argus:

Clare Legge

With former World Health Organization cancer programme Professor Karol Sikora optimistic that the UK as a whole will be "back to normal" by August, Ms Legge added: "This process of lockdown transition can still create small peaks of anxiety, anger and stress.

"Whilst the opening up will be less traumatic than the lockdown, expanding a boundary is nevertheless yet another change to deal with."