Hundreds of disabled Scots say they are being ‘pushed to the brink’ by the current crisis as support structures disappear.

A survey carried out by national disabled people’s organisation, Inclusion Scotland, has found parents are saying their children are becoming so stressed under lockdown that some are self-harming or becoming violent to others.

One single parent of two disabled children described ‘screaming into her pillow’ every night because her situation at home had become so ‘frightening and intolerable. My child is hurting herself hourly and there is no support for her’.

It also found some disabled Scots had been left bedbound, unable to wash or feed themselves, or suddenly reliant on family carers, without training or support – situations that were causing extreme anxiety and feelings of abandonment.

Inclusion Scotland says that the Scottish Government has provided emergency investment to local authorities to maintain care and support for disabled people, and has stated clearly that social care support should not be removed from disabled people during this crisis.

However, they point out that almost half of those who responded to the survey (48%) on this issue told the charity that their support had either stopped completely or had been reduced.

According to the charity, the survey of over 800 people from across Scotland shows that stress, fear and anxiety are widespread for disabled people in the wake of the virus.

Whilst Inclusion Scotland acknowledges anxiety about the future is widespread throughout the general public, disabled people – some with pre-existing mental health problems – are at ‘breaking point’.

Fifteen people told the charity through the anonymous survey they were ‘suicidal’ and hundreds of others have said they were being ‘pushed to the brink’.

CEO of Inclusion Scotland Dr Sally Witcher said: “It is an anxious and stressful time for everyone in Scotland, but our evidence shows that too many disabled Scots in lockdown are facing a mental health emergency.

“We know that there have been Scottish Government announcements of actions that aim to address some of the issues that are causing disabled people additional stress and anxiety, but what is happening, in the cases that we are hearing, tells us that this is not always translating into reality for disabled people on the ground, at a time when so many services, including those offering mental health support, are least able to provide help.”

The charity also says that despite assurances from Scottish Government officials after concerns were first raised at the beginning of April, disabled people were still very worried about being pressurised to sign Do Not Resuscitate notices and the possibility that they will be denied treatment because of their impairments should they contract covid-19 and be hospitalised.

Speaking to the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 Committee today, former Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Harry Burns spoke about the unintended consequences of lockdown, particularly the impact on people’s mental health.

Scotland has seen a rise in deaths not related to covid-19 in recent weeks, while many charities have reported surges in calls for help.

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