‘Worst time to be single’: Melburnians share emotional cost of second lockdown

As calls to the coronavirus mental health helpline spike in Victoria, Melburnians living under stage four lockdown share video diaries of their feelings and experiences

Most Victorians are experiencing something few other Australians can relate to: being in lockdown for weeks on end, unable to leave their homes between 8pm and 5am, and limited to one hour of fresh air a day within a 5km radius of their homes.

On 24 August, the Victoria's deputy premier, James Merlino, told the state's Covid-19 committee that nearly two-thirds of calls and webchats to the national coronavirus mental health helpline Beyond Blue in July came from Victorians. He also said demand to Lifeline rose by 22% in Victoria in July, while demand to Kids Helpline from Victorian youth increased 8% in July compared with the previous month.