LOCKDOWN changed my life

Five years on from the pandemic, three women share their stories of the impact it had on them

- KATE CHAPMAN

The downtime helped me find a new vocation'

Counsellor and editor Kay Thomas, 58, lives in Bromley, London, with her husband and three grown-up children.

When the pandemic hit, my husband was made redundant, my work dried up, and I spent a lot of time online. Bored and scrolling social media, I spotted a post by an acquaintance who was working as a school counsellor, supporting children of key workers.

It piqued my interest - she was doing something of value. I researched what qualifications were required, and enrolled on an introductory counselling course. Many of my skills were transferable and, with a background in journalism, I have a keen interest in people.

I started the course between lockdowns, but by week three, I was hospitalised with Covid-19 pneumonia. While in isolation a client emailed, asking if I could write copy from my hospital bed. I didn't think anything of it - it's normal to have demanding clients as a writer. In the same vein, I emailed my course tutor suggesting I attend college from hospital via Zoom. He was horrified, and told me to prioritise self-care. That highlighted the key differences between the two jobs.

When the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out, I volunteered in clinics, and really felt I was helping to get people's lives moving forward, along with all the medics involved.

'It's too late at my age to retrain as a doctor, but I can still make a difference,' I told my family. The seed was sown. I signed up for the next level in counsellor training. Around that time, I was commissioned to write a book about working during the pandemic. I conducted 32 interviews and realised many employees were affected by poor mental health at that time. Telling their stories spurred me on to complete the training.