THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH

AS THE coronavirus continues to spread across the world, most of us have spent a lot of time worrying about our physical health, leaving less time to consider how the pandemic may be affecting our mental health.

The strain of being self-isolated or in lockdown is affecting us. And with the prospect of being stuck in our houses for the foreseeable future, anxiety levels are building.

We are experiencing heightened anxiety due to the thought of the virus and how it might affect us, our family, friends, and our jobs.

Not only do we need to consider the Covid-19 pandemic, but we also have to consider that there is, in effect, an emotional pandemic of anxiety, worry and fear and catastrophising.

Staying at home for a prolonged period of time can be difficult, frustrating and lonely for many of us, and we or other household members may feel low.

But working from home can be a very positive thing. It can make life more enjoyable and productive but if it’s foisted on you in the middle of a global pandemic and the climate of fear, there are definite challenges.

The truth is that the mental health effects of Covid-19 are as important to address as the physical ones.

That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has advised people struggling with the mental health impact of Covid-19 to “avoid watching, reading or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed: seek information mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones”.

The WHO recommends that those in isolation stay connected and maintain social network usage, while still keeping up with their normal daily routine as much as possible.

We need strategies to cope with the extreme circumstances imposed by Covid-19.

It will be a good idea if you can fill your day with activities of different kinds, so give your day some structure with a timetable that takes you from breakfast to supper with interesting activities, and stick to your plan.

Here are my suggestions five steps to help us cope with Covid-19:

● Exercise. It is important to include some exercise in your routine as well as relaxation techniques, and keep your mind active. Eat well and stay hydrated. And try to get outdoors.

● House chores. This is a good time to do things you’ve been putting off for ages. Assign each day of the week to one house chore or project such as cleaning windows, cleaning kitchen cupboards and wardrobes.

● Reading. Draw up a reading list and set aside certain times every day for reading, even if it’s just one hour.

● News and anxieties. The constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless, so try to only look at reputable sources and limit the amount of time you spend watching the news.

● Talking to family and friends is one of the best ways of relieving anxiety. A trouble shared is a trouble halved. Set up certain times in the day when you’ll call a member of the family or use the modern technologies of Skype or FaceTime to catch up with members of your family and friends.

The coronavirus will change all our lives forever.

When the pandemic is over we’ll go back to normal, but it won’t be the normal we know.

Whatever we do, in terms of focus, we need to stay in the present.

All we can do is embrace the situation and make the most of it by taking care of our mental health.