Mental health charities in Greater Manchester have reported unprecedented numbers of calls since the country went into lockdown.

One charity, which supports young people with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts - has seen a 300pc increase in calls during the last three weeks.

A service which supports people with mood-based disorders, and the LGBT Foundation, have seen the number of new calls double since measures were announced by the government.

Restrictions on movement and the uncertainty caused by coronavirus has seen a large increase in the number of people suffering with anxiety, volunteers report.

Mental health services are also having to offer additional bereavement support, as many families across Greater Manchester come to terms with losing a loved one to COVID-19.

Many charities across the region have been forced to adapt the way they provide support to people with mental health issues, within a matter of hours or days.

Bosses say they are no longer able to provide vital face-to-face support, and have now had to move services online, in what has been described as an "extremely challenging process."

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Some services are facing staffing issues, with some volunteers shielding or isolating, and recruitment and vetting processes having to be placed on hold.

Meanwhile, the charity sector is facing a funding crisis after major sponsorship events have been cancelled and donations are drying up as people face a loss of income.

Simone Spray is director of Manchester-based charity 42nd street, which provides support for young people aged 11 to 25 in the form of counselling, therapy, psycho-social support and advocacy.

The charity is no longer able to offer face-to-face sessions and her entire team of 90 staff are now all working from home.

"We have seen a 300 per cent increase in new calls in the last three weeks, which is around 100 new young people who have signed up," Simone said.

"We expect to reach full capacity very soon.

"For some people we see, the change in situation has been positive, but we are seeing new calls from young people whose coping mechanisms are school, and now they don't have those support lines."

Simone says the change in the working environment has made her more concerned about her own staff, who are taking difficult phone calls in their homes.

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"I have been worried about my staff because they are sitting in bedrooms taking distressing calls from vulnerable people with none of their office colleagues to speak to about it.

"The voluntary sector has a very important role to play in this and it's going to get even more difficult when we do come out of lockdown.

"The funding that is coming down has so far been very small and rightly, a lot of that money is going to frontline mental health services rather than the community."

CEO of Manchester Mind, Elizabeth Simpson said the charity have seen an influx in calls from people who are struggling "significantly."

"National helplines saw a massive rise in the first few weeks and now in Greater Manchester, we are starting to see a peak now too," Elizabeth said.

"What we are finding is that for a lot of people with existing mental health issues, coronavirus has exasperated that.

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"I spoke to someone with existing anxiety and the pandemic has caused them to become compulsive about hygiene and washing their hands.

"There are also a lot of people at home who have nothing to do. I have spoken to a couple of people who have been furloughed and have realised that work has been important to keep their mental health on track."

Elizabeth says one of her major concerns is the impact coronavirus will have on funding within the mental health charity sector.

"There are a number of organisations who are already at risk and there are a number who are going to be at risk over the next year," Elizabeth said.

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"People are not working so there is less money to donate, big events where we would usually receive sponsorship have been cancelled, and a lot of money is going to the NHS.

"Charities have already lost £4.7bn and the government package that has been offered is £750 million.

"It's going to be a huge worry for those working in the charity sector in the next 12 months, when charities are going to be needed even more than they are now."

Assistant director of services for the LGBT Foundation, Charlotte Cooke said calls to the helpline have doubled since the start of lockdown.

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"We have seen a real increase regarding loneliness and isolation as well as people who are having trouble accessing medication, procedures and sexual health testing.

"People who are transgender and are going through transitioning have said they are struggling to get hormone treatment and people awaiting gender reassignment surgery have had theirs delayed or cancelled.

"These people have already had to wait a very long time and gender dysphoria at the moment is very high."

Charlotte says that due to a number of people isolating with families who do not know they are LGBT, many people have been "forced back into the closet."

Helplines and websites Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch. For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year. Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill. PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/ Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/

Calls to the foundation's dedicated domestic violence project have also seen a 38% increase, as LGBT people are more likely to find themselves in abusive relationships.

Peter Ireland is a counselling manager at Age UK in Manchester, and offers support to people aged 60 and over.

Because of coronavirus, the charity are unable to provide any face to face counselling, and have moved to phone and video calls.

"That has complications because some elderly people don't have good hearing, and others are concerned about being to able to speak confidentially from where they live," Peter said.

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Peter said the service is primarily taking calls from people dealing with isolation and loneliness, as well as from those who are not able to get food shopping and medical supplies.

"The main issue is anxiety - some of our clients are anxious already but with the situation, and the fact it could affect them much more intensely is concerning for them," Peter said.

"We are now offering bereavement support to people who have lost someone to coronavirus, who may have to isolate for 14 days, or can't spend time with family because they are vulnerable."

Earlier this month, the government announced that charities across the UK will receive a £750 million package of support to ensure they can continue their work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: "Our charities are playing a crucial role in the national fight against coronavirus, supporting those who are most in need.

"It’s right we do everything we can to help the sector during this difficult time, which is why we have announced this unprecedented £750 million package of extra funding.

"This will ensure our key charities can continue to deliver the services that millions of people up and down the country rely on."

To contact 42nd Street, call 0161 228 7321 or email theteam@42ndstreet.org.uk

For Manchester Mind, call 0161 769 5732. The phone line is being manned Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10pm to 2pm.

For the LGBT Foundation, call 0345 3 30 30 30 or email info@lgbt.foundation.

To contact Age UK, call 0161 833 3944 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or email enquiries@ageukmanchester.org.uk.