Now, speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Britain's top mental health specialists warn that the worst of the UK's mental health crisis is yet to come. The fall-out from the pandemic is likely to continue for the next three to five years, according to a new report by the Centre for Mental Health. 'The drop in referrals is a sign that people have either been reluctant to, or are not able to, access their GP for help during the lockdowns,' says Dr David Crepaz-Keay, head of social issues at the Mental Health Foundation. 'Research from past pandemics shows a delay in people coming forward for help. The event itself offers a distraction, they are focused on simply getting through the day-to-day. 'But as soon as normality begins to return, the serious mental health issues come to the fore. Some will already have a diagnosis and will suffer a relapse, while others will be experiencing something for the first time.