COVID-19 & Mental Health

It’s a pretty unsettling time with the COVID-19 pandemic. With people having to go into self-isolation, undertaking social distancing, being in lockdown, losing your job, it’s really hard to not to be anxious, confused, frustrated and even angry. Given that coping mechanisms such as catching up with family, going out for coffee and dinner with your friends are now a no no, here are some tips to protect your mental health:

1. Have a routine and stick to it, especially if you are in self-isolation or working from home. It’s especially important to have a routine regarding sleep.
2. When reading about COVID-19 go to reliable sources, go to scientific journals, rely on facts. Useful sites are Australian Government coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert ; Health Direct – Coronavirus (COVID-19); smartraveller.gov.au – travel information for Australian citizens; World Health Organization – coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
3. Take a break from the news. Just because the news is on 24/7, it doesn’t mean you have to be watching it 24/7, especially if it is upsetting you.
4. Stay occupied. Keep busy with work (if you still have a job) and now is a time to take up a hobby eg painting, photography. There are so many on-line courses which are being offered at a discount. Or it could be time to work on a project at home that you have been putting off eg building that bookshelf, de-cluttering the house.
5. Stay positive and share good news to your family, friends and co-workers. Every-one loves a good news story. It’s so easy to stay connected with today’s technology.
6. Eat well and exercise. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables, daily exercise is essential for your mental whether there is a global pandemic or not.
7. Enjoy the little things – whether it’s baking a cake, meditating, yoga, playing your guitar.
8. Keep calm. As difficult as it can be going to worst case scenarios just fuels anxiety. Definitely accept and validate your feelings but always remember our medical, scientific and public health experts around the world are working hard to contain the virus, treat those affected and develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.
9. Keep reminding yourself that this period of social distancing and isolation is helping protecting our loved ones and the broader community. COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate – it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, nationality or ethnicity and staying at home and not socialising is helping with containing the spread of the virus.
10. Seek professional help or contact agencies such as Lifeline (www.lifeline.org.au ) or Beyond Blue (www.beyondblue.org ) if you are really struggling with protecting your mental health.

This is not forever. Although we do not know when, there will be light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.

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