She’s got a plateful of panacea
Over exposure to disturbing news of the pandemic on social media is creating fear and depression among the public. Is there an antidote?
The second wave of the pandemic in India has also spawned an ‘infodemic’ of negative, fake or false news, spreading panic and affecting the mental health of people. Lifestyle expert and Sports & Preventive Health Nutritionist Shiny Surendran says relentless media reports about hospitals overflowing with patients, disadvantaged families and mass funeral pyres don’t do any good, nor do they provide fresh information. She has been vocal about the damage caused by the situation.
Shiny says a lot of her clients are in need of psychological help to overcome the impact of the negativity spread on social media. “Imagine being bombarded with negative reports from morning till evening. That’s why, as a well-being expert, I decided to speak out against the negativity relating to the pandemic on social media,” she says. Instead of filling media space with disturbing news, interviews of patients who have recovered from COVID-19, and information on how to source oxygen cylinders, find plasma donors, ascertain the availability of beds in hospitals, and call an ambulance should be spread, she suggests, adding, everyone should be encouraged to serve.
Asked if the general ambience of negativity is causing depression and panic, she says “The scenes they show are real, but the amount of it is shaping a fear among us. It should be controlled. We can block sites that pop up with such information. Take a break from the screen and walk on your terrace or garden or even inside your home without breaching social distancing regulations.”
Shiny points out that social media can be useful at this time when many of us are isolated. And with the unprecedented level of real-time information that we get at our fingertips, we have the power to make it a key tool to take wise decisions and stay safe from the virus, she stresses.