Getting help with Brexit worries as settled status deadline approaches

The UK officially left the EU on 31 December, 2020, but for many people – those who voted Brexit, those who voted Remain, and those who didn’t or couldn’t vote at all – this is still causing uncertainty, on top of concerns generated by the covid pandemic.

EU citizens living in the UK have had a prolonged period of worry about the future, and whether they would have the legal right to continue to live here. They may need to apply for the Government’s EU Settlement Scheme to be allowed to stay – and the deadline for this is 30 June, 2021.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK, this is a really important deadline. The legal situation will change on 1 July, and if you haven’t applied you could find it difficult to rent a home, find a job or get NHS treatment. Even if you have settled status, you may need to apply for your children.

The Youth Citizen Service (YCS) has produced a short video about the EU Settlement Scheme. YCS produces videos about citizenship, democracy and consumer rights, with information on charities and other organisations that can help young people.

In the video recommends that EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK should subscribe to the newsletter for The 3 Million, a campaign organisation set up to protect the rights of EU citizens who have made the UK their home.

Writing about the impact of Brexit on mental health, the Open Access Government website outlines:

There are still so many unknowns and so much uncertainty for EU Citizen’s within the UK who have set up home here and built a life here. They now face the prospect of having to prove that they add value to British society. Feeling such little control over your future is undoubtedly going to lead to stress and anxiety. It is already documented that feeling out of control is known to lead to increasing frustration, anger, guilt and depression, as you feel so incapable of making decisions that will have a meaningful impact.

You can find more information and complete your application by visiting www.gov.uk and searching for “EU Settlement Scheme”. It is free to apply, but you must complete your application before the deadline.

If you want to get wider advice about the implications of Brexit and how it affects you, then explore the Mayor of London’s European Hub for the latest updates including how to get help and support in relation to the EU Settlement Scheme.

With Brexit and the pandemic, we have all been living with uncertainty for a long time, and we know that this can contribute to feelings of anxiety.

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or worried when times are uncertain. You are not alone in feeling this way. An opinion poll by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found that a third of people said Brexit had had a negative impact on their wellbeing.

It has never been more important for each of us to think and talk more about mental health and wellbeing, and to seek support when needed. In London, there are a range of free resources, online tools, and helplines available to help you cope and stay mentally healthy.

There are simple ways that you can look after your own mental health and the wellbeing of those you care about. We have partnered with Doctors of the World to produce wellbeing guidance to support migrant communities during the pandemic. The guidance is downloadable in 27 languages, including many European languages, and provides six simple steps to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

The Mental Health Foundation has a range of tips to deal with the stress of Brexit, as well as comments on what people have done to cope during the uncertainty.

Good Thinking is a free, NHS-approved, digital mental health service to support people living, working and studying in London who are looking for ways to improve how they feel every day. It offers safe tips, ideas and tools to help with your wellbeing including advice for managing anxiety, depression, stress and sleep.

You should know that even though things can feel very hard at times, support is available for whatever you are going through.