COVID 19 Mental Health Tips

To date, the world is struggling with the Novel CoronaVirus since its known/recorded outbreak, dated 31 December 2019 (as per World Health Organization’s records) when Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China, reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Eventually, they identified a novel coronavirus. This pandemic has caused a great deal of mental stress for most people, especially those whose family members fell victim to this novel virus.

The 1918 flu, also known as the “Spanish flu,” was considered to be the deadliest pandemic in modern history. It claimed more than 1/3 of the world’s population during its prevalence. It claimed the lives of 50 million. The Spanish flu lasted for 2 years, from 1918 to 1920. Academics and Spanish historians agree that the end of the Spanish Flu pandemic occurred in 1920 when society ended up developing a “collective immunity to the Spanish flu,” although the virus never completely disappeared.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed millions of lives. Many more millions are going to infect. Billions of dollars worth of economic activity have been lost. Since the end of 2020, increasing numbers of people are being tested. We are more comfortable wear PPE. Many of us have had or are about to have a COVID vaccination.

So, how do we mentally cope with all this stress? How do we deal with the surging problems, stresses, during an infectious disease outbreak? Fear and worry about our own health and the health of our loved ones, our financial situation or job, or loss of support services that we often may need to rely on? For whatever it is worth, here are some things that may help:

• Be kind to yourself and most especially to others.
• Manage your feelings, acknowledge your fears.
• Know that we are not alone.
• Think realistically, lower expectations.
• Make the best of what life has to offer, deal with life on a daily basis.
• Maintain a routine.
• Keep your physical distance from friends and relatives, but maintain your social circle.
• Watch updates from reliable sources only.
• Get some air, walk or do a bit of exercise.

At present, telehealth psychiatry and telehealth psychology has picked up pace in the mental health care sector. Online Mental Health Support is available and some services do offer bulk billing because of the Medicare Telehealth Australia offers. When we think that we do need help. We should reach out to using these services.

In sum, everyone has their own way of dealing with stress and we all have various saturation points. There is a lot to learn during the most difficult trials in our lives. Slowing down, taking care of ourselves and our loved ones, is the best thing we can do when all else seems to be going in a spiral spin and at such a rapid pace. And in the end, let us find the need to mindfully contemplate what life lessons we can take away from this extraordinary time.