Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers speaking about the impact of lockdown on people said: "We have rightly been focused on protecting public health from Cobid-19 and working to ensure our hospitals do not become over run but there have been unintended consequences for people's mental health as we roll in and out of lockdown and little has been done to help people."
She continued saying: "The restrictions are impacting people differently and we know that the poorer and more vulnerable are most impacted.
"This virus does discriminate and marginal communities and those who have less are hardest hit. People living alone, those living in cramped conditions, people who have lost their jobs are all really feeling the heavy burden of restrictions. Lockdown is not the same for everyone; yes we are all in this together but we are not all in the same boat."
"Younger people have lost so much in this pandemic with their college experience being taken away, loss of part time jobs, no socialising and infrequent meeting with friends, it's a difficult time to be a teenager or in your 20s.
"We are at close to 40 per cent unemployment in under 25s and this has to be a priority for the government to get young people back to work or risk long term impacts on this generation.
"For families that have been without respite or day services during this pandemic, many are at breaking point and in need of a rest. The government dropped the ball here and allowed day services to remain suspended for far too long which has caused harm to service users and their families.
"Yes we protected people from catching the virus, but what about the impact on their mental health?. We are exiting level five for Christmas and while the numbers are not exactly where we want them to be we absolutely have to give people some hope and a break from lockdown so they can see their families at this special time of year.
"For the sake of people's mental health we need to allow families and friends to see one another and find a safe way to celebrate Christmas together.
"Santa has come early with news of a vaccine and we are all so grateful to the doctors and scientists that have worked round the clock to make this happen. But while we await the roll out of the vaccine we have to find a way to avoid rolling in and out of lockdown and protect both the mental and physical health of citizens."
