Why Coronavirus has caused a mental health emergency (and how to help)

Back in March, when the whole “coronavirus thing” started to get more real, I wanted to figure out what it was that was making me feel the way I was feeling. 

That in itself was quite challenging… I had no idea how I felt.

But when things get weird I like to gobble up information and then sit back and find ways to intellectualise it. It helps me gain a sense of control.

So, I sat on a bench, pen in hand, searching for answers.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about this guy…

The absolute legend that is Abraham Maslow came up with a Hierarchy of Needs back in 1943 - and it still blows minds.

There are five pillars, the foundation representing the very most important human need, and each one above represents what we’re striving towards.

1. Physiological: Do I have what I need to survive? Basic needs like food and water.
2. Safety: Do I feel physically and emotionally safe? This is where employment, property and health come in. 
3. Love and Belonging: Aka. The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return… ??
4. Esteem: To genuinely appreciate and respect yourself.
5. Self-Actualisation: Now known on the ‘gram as your #bestself.

And here’s what it looks like in the times of corona…

1. Physiological: The papers are reporting on a killer virus - will I survive? Yes. I’ve got this, I will be careful, I will survive.
2. Safety: But what about money, will I lose my job? My job is safe, I have a roof over my head, I’m not in danger.
3. Love and Belonging: But what about my loved ones. Are they okay? I miss them already. Zooming every hour on the hour. Pub quizzes and virtual cocktails. We’re good.
4. Esteem: I have everything I need but why am I being so lazy? I’m not doing this pandemic well. Amber said there’s no right way and I trust her, I’m doing great. 
5. Self-Actualisation: I’m good, maybe great. But is it enough? Am I enough? Yes, I am. I’ve done all the work and I’m exactly where I want and need to be.

Cool. Connect the dots, please… 

Of course you keep on losing your shit!

This is the first time in our lifetime that the whole world has questioned their most basic needs.

Generally, our first concerns weren’t about us getting sick from the virus, but as soon as we realised there was a threat, panic buying started. Access to food and water is within Maslow’s first layer.

And let’s keep it real here, even if you didn’t stockpile, you picked up “an extra” of something. "Might as well grab that spaghetti, an extra bottle of wine won’t hurt, double the eggs just in case".

... I did each one of those.

That’s the foundational layer of Maslow’s hierarchy… Boom ????

And it messes with us. It makes every layer above harder to reach. It screws with our motivation. Our priorities shift and things that used to matter don’t so much. We question the importance of that spreadsheet we used to adore. Or, if security is the layer we’re fighting for, our vision locks in on our work performance at the detriment of some of our other basic needs.

Our world is rocked. We follow our instincts as best as we can in our mission to survive. 

Three months later, what happened?

Three months on from my Maslow daydreams and I am blown away by the demonstration of strength, resilience, kindness and grit.

So first off, I implore you to give yourself a break from the psychological beating. I urge you to be mindful of the fight and to find an extra grain of compassion for the colleague that is acting out of sorts. I remind you that even as lockdown restrictions ease, there is nothing normal about the world we are in today. 

But the fall out is real. 

Data released from Mind shows a significant decline in our mental health. More than half of adults (60%) and over two-thirds of young people (68%) have said their mental health got worse during lockdown. 

The impact is far and wide. Those who have struggled before are struggling again and those who have a history of glowing mental wellness are battling for the first time. 

How can we help?

The Mind report showed that very few people feel comfortable turning to their workplace for support. This has got to change. 

At Balpro, we’re making mental health a business priority for all of our clients. Knowing that it’s not just the right thing to do, it makes business sense: 17.5 million working days are lost to poor mental health each year in the UK, costing more than ￡43 billion. 

Throughout lockdown, we’ve been helping some wonderful organisations better support their people (and bottom line). We’ve got a great collection of workshops that are fit for leadership and teams, we offer 1-2-1 coaching and are available for targetted consultancy on how to make your business more supportive. We’ve got you, just ask. 

If you’re struggling, we’ve got some great ways that you can help build that beautiful mind here and if you find yourself in crisis, text SHOUT to 85258 for free 24/7 support. You can also get in touch for 1:1 coaching. 

If you want help supporting someone else, this is our favourite resource. 

What next?

Nobody knows... But I do know that collectively we’ve already done the impossible. 

We’re mastering the highs and lows of Maslow’s pyramid and I believe that as we continue to build those muscles, more purpose, joy and connection will be found. 

It’s unlikely to be a straight road ahead, but we really have got this.