In the latest episode of our Covid Matters podcast, we spoke to Duncan Boak; founder and CEO of the smell and taste disorder charity Fifth Sense. We learned from Duncan how Fifth Sense is helping people whose sense of smell and/or taste has changed since having Covid-19. He also provided insights into the charity’s background and wider work, and explained some of the science of how a virus affects odour detection.

Duncan shared his own story of losing his sense of smell following an accident where he sustained a head injury. Although it’s known that physical trauma to the head can damage smell or taste sensation, Duncan found that health professionals lacked knowledge about his condition, or about any treatment options that there were. He also found some people to be dismissive of his loss, downplaying the impact that it had upon various aspects of his life. His journey led to him setting up Fifth Sense in 2012, with the aim to provide support and advice for those affected by an absent – or reduced – sense of smell, and to educate people about the reality of living with those changes.

In the podcast, Duncan highlights some of these challenges, learned from his own lived experiences as well as from the Fifth Sense community that he has helped to bring together. For example, losing what is, as Duncan points out, “one of the five ways in which we connect with the world around us” can reduce peoples’ enjoyment of food and drink, resulting in them eating less and consequently losing weight. This, in turn, can lead to inadequate nutrition. A changed relationship with food can impact mental health and social eating, and if a food or drink that brought particular pleasure now tastes unappetising, a grief process may be triggered. The lack of awareness of, and empathy for, the effects of not being able to smell can mean that those affected suffer in silence, feeling isolated and alone. For those with Long Covid, there are typically other symptoms that they are also having to contend with.

• Find tailored resources from Fifth Sense for this episode and more information here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest Covid Matters podcast, covid:aid discussed the short film These Four Walls, which presented stories around grief and bereavement during the Covid pandemic. We were joined on the podcast by Ellie Harrison, the writer and director of These Four Walls, as well as the film’s principal investigators: Dr Lucy Selman from the University of Bristol, and Dr Emily Harrop from Cardiff University. Both Lucy and Emily are social scientists by background and work in palliative care with a particular interest in grief and bereavement. Lucy is also the founding director of the Good Grief Festival, which hosts free talks, webinars, workshops and other events that provide space for conversations around bereavement and loss, as well as building a supportive grief community.

Ellie is an artist and activist whose work includes The Grief Series: a sequence of seven projects that present and explore ideas around grief, each one produced in collaboration with another artist as well as with community engagement. This project, the Good Grief Festival, and These Four Walls all aim to create safe and welcoming spaces for the stories and feelings that people have around loss and bereavement to be heard in. In the podcast, Ellie talks about the need that she feels there is for people to be able to do this in a way that validates, normalises, and offers comfort to peoples’ grief journeys.

• You can watch These Four Walls here.
• The Good Grief Festival website has other resources, articles, and news about courses and events on its journal page.
• Covid:aid has a dedicated grief and bereavement section on its website, as well as a Grief Chat option if you’re needing advice and support.
• Cruse is a charity that has been providing support and information around bereavement for over 60 years. They also have a free helpline available seven days a week.
• You may also find these resources from Mind, and this NHS page useful if you, or someone you know, have experienced a bereavement.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Covid Aid spoke to Kerry McLeod, Head of Information Content, and Amy-Louise Murray, Information Officer at Mind, to find out more about the mental health charity, before answering questions from the Covid Aid Support Community around anxiety, loneliness, and coping with the persistent effects of Long Covid.

• Anxiety and panic attacks – Explains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family
• Bereavement - Provides information on bereavement, where to go for support, and suggestions for helping yourself and others through grief
• Coronavirus and mental health - The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is affecting all our lives. Many of us are struggling with how it's affecting ourselves and our loved ones. Those of us living with mental health problems are facing extra challenges too. Here you'll find reliable information and tips to help you cope
• Depression - Information about depression, its symptoms and possible causes, and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips on caring for yourself, and guidance for friends and family
• Seeking help for a mental health problem – A guide to taking the first steps, making empowered decisions and getting the right support for you

Mind’s Infoline: 0300 123 3393

• Email: info@mind.org.uk
• Post: Mind Infoline, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS

Mind's Infoline provides an information and signposting service, and is open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).

You can ask about:

• mental health problems
• where to get help near you
• treatment options
• advocacy services

Legal line: 0300 466 6463

Email: legal@mind.org.uk ~

Post: Mind Legal line, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS

Mind's Legal line provides legal information and general advice on mental health related law. It's open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays)

Ask about:

• being detained under the Mental Health Act (sectioning)
• mental capacity
• community care
• discrimination and equality.

Side by Side

• Side by Side is a supportive online community

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.