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Ensuring mental health doesn't suffer during COVID-19



It's a long'un.



Let's be honest, you can't go five minutes at the moment without hearing about Coronavirus. It seems that our entire news feeds are filled with stories every two minutes with a new thing to worry about.

Especially when we still don't know all the facts and are being relentlessly bombarded with information without a chance to process everything.

Furthermore, I don't think the worry we are all feeling has been helped by panic bulk buyers who leave shop shelves bare with nothing for those who desperately need it.

I have seen countless heartbreaking posts about elderly individuals who live alone with no friends or family around and find it difficult to get out but manage to make it to the corner shop only to find that a 9 pack of loo roll that would usually last them a month, has been taken by the single woman with 4 packs who is stocking up for the zombie apocalypse with half a dozen rolls still at home.

😷



Coronavirus is a new illness, which is why we don't know a lot about it. Half the time, that's what causes the biggest fear in people - the unknown.

-

But I cannot stress this enough,

you do not need to panic about Coronavirus.


Current advice is to stay at home if you experience any of the symptoms: a fever, a new and continuous dry cough.

The reason for this advice is not because you may have the virus, so please don't jump to conclusions. A lot of the time, a simple cough or cold is just that. The reason is so you don't pass it to those who are more vulnerable. For those more susceptible, the elderly, pregnant and those with underlying respiratory issues or weakened immune systems; what may just be a small cough on its own for us - easily manageable, could literally mean life or death in the long run for them. That's the reason for all the coverage on television and the advice to stay inside and why they have now closed pubs, clubs, restaurants and leisure centres.



This is something we have not experienced before, not just on an illness/viral level, but literally in our life times. Even our parents and some grandparents won't ever have experienced anything like what is currently happening on a global scale now. The last time anything would have been even remotely like this was the war with the curfews. This isn't just the UK, this is the entire world. The Italian government is at a loos of what to do next. They have taken every measure possible to reduce the chance of infecting others and fully locked down the country. We have been told we're only weeks behind Italy. People need to start taking it seriously. If people adhere to social distancing and isolation rules, this will be over and done with a LOT quicker. But if people continue to go out and meet up with people in public and even stupidly busy tourist places, it's just going to prolong the strict rules, more than likely leading to a full lockdown by the end of the week/month. Be smart about this, guys. Please. I mean, every single McDonalds and Nandos in the UK is closing today.

every.single.one.

If that doesn't show you how serious it is, I dunno what will!


If you want to prevent passing so many pesky germs to people, just follow basic guidelines:

☾Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. (maybe keep a non-greasy moisturiser next to your soap so your hands don't dry out?)

☾Use the 'catch it, bin it, kill it' method with coughs and sneezes -cough or sneeze directly into a tissue, put the tissue immediately in the bin and wash your hands after.

☾Avoid mass gatherings/places with a lot of footfall and close contact with others.

☾Use sanitiser when hand washing facilities are unavailable. Sanitiser is not a first choice, go-to option for defence against bacteria, it is just an easy barrier.

^ This is one that's bugged me a bit as so many people will see the "destroys 99.9% bacteria" and smell the alcohol and chemicals and assume that's better than soap. I've seen people reach for food samples in a public place with their hands without a toothpick and state "Oh no, it's fine, I've sanitised my hands." Or people who will visibly and vigorously cough into their hand, reach into their bag/pocket and put a splodge of sanitiser on, put it sanitiser back and carry on. The majority wiping their wet sanitised hands on their coats or jeans.

... no no...

Stop.


Basically, don't be a grubby bugger and be considerate of others.


And stop touching yo damn face.

🛑



Home with the kids?

If you're having to stay at home because of childcare, there are some amazing people online who are volunteering their spare time to help kids while they're stuck at home.

For anyone with kiddly-winks at home, Joe Wicks (The Body Coach, online nutritionist and health fanatic) is doing free live videos every day next week as a sort of P.E. at home for kids off school. Have a look here.

If you've got little ones up to year 6, UK, have a look at some of the Primary Leap downloadable work sheets with a range of topics for them to have a crack at while they're home.

One really great way to explain to kids at this moment why it is SO important to have good hygiene and to properly wash their hands, is a video from former McFly heart throb, Tom Fletcher. He does some fun home science with his kids that easily shows and explains the importance of soap and hand washing! If you've not seen the video before, it's adorable and he is so good with the kids.



Why not post in your local facebook group or sign up to local site Nextdoor where people in a close vicinity can post things that they need like an electrician or if anyone knows where to get certain items or just help around the area of info on groups/events etc. On my very small local Nextdoor community, I've seen so many posts from people asking if anyone is in isolation and offers to do food shops for people and drop off outside front doors and people to running to the aid of others.


As self-isolation is becoming more of a thing, I think it is important to take measures that ensure our mental health doesn't suffer or deteriorate in these long time periods alone.


If you're still unsure, have a look at the Stay At Home Guide on the Government website.



PJS ALL DAY EVERY DAY

If you are in a job where you are able to work remotely, you're very lucky. The one thing I would advise is to ensure that your work space is different from your living space.

If, when you get home from work, you usually just chill out in the living room like I do, try and keep your work space away from your unwinding space. If you've got a dining table or a spare room with a desk/table, make yourself a little DIY home desk. If you're in a small place, just try and get into a comfortable space that wont blur the border between work and home too much.

Also, act as if you are in fact at work. I do not mean suit and tie. If you're at home and don't need to be on any video calls, you wear the hell out of those ugly, yet comfy, jogging bottoms with the hole on the butt. What I mean is, don't get distracted by home stuff. Don't spend too long on your phone, don't snack constantly. Take your breaks as you usually would at work. Have little breaks to go for a stroll around the house or a cuppa.





What can we do?

In terms of making sure our mental health doesn't suffer at the hands of this virus, there are a lot of things we can do, both for ourselves and for each other.


Firstly, if you show even a single symptom, mild or not, please enforce a bit of social distancing and, if possible, self-isolate. The best thing you can do is make sure you don't pass it on.

I know some people cannot simply afford to take time off work to self isolate as they may have families to support or any other reason. I truly hope the government sorts something which means those who cannot afford to self-isolate/work from home do not need to worry about income.


If you are not showing symptoms or have been tested and given the all clear, please reach out to others. They may not be doing so good.

☾Send a quick message to make sure your friends and family are okay. ☾Offer to get essentials from shops should they need it.

☾Ask your neighbours if they are okay.

☾Be more considerate when buying food and household items.




I'll bet Just Eat and Deliveroo are rolling in it at the moment for people who can't get stuff at the shops but can't go out. I can admit they've been a godsend for us! If you do order takeaway, please remember to try and be as contactless as possible. Where you can:

☾Pay via card online not cash.

☾Leave the driver a note asking them to leave by the door and knock when food arrives so as to minimise social exposure.

☾If you do pay by cash, use gloves if possible.

☾Even better, put the money in an envelope and hand that over instead of nakey money.


The word isolation brings very negative connotations. It almost seems like a punishment, well, I guess it is in prison (or maybe I just got that from binging OITNB).

As someone who suffers every single day from severe anxiety and depression, I can say that in some of my darkest times, I had a tendency to isolate myself. I wouldn't leave the house, I'd barely contact people - the less human interaction the better. It wasn't the best decision. Isolation can truly be detrimental to mental health.

If you know people in self-isolation, give them a call, even if it's just for five minutes. Send them a quick message to check in. If you have older relatives or friends who own and know how to use phones/tablets/computers, sort out Skype/Facetime and show them how to video call! Lend them that spare iPhone 4 you've got lying at the bottom of a drawer so they can keep in contact. Send a message to that work colleague you don't really talk to that much outside of work just to check in. Give your auntie a quick call. Technology has shown itself to be essential at the moment. Take advantage of what you have.

Post a little note through a door on your street asking if they're okay.

Try and keep yourself in routine - that's a biggie. Don't lose your routine just because your location has changed.





To end on a high note, I just want to say how lovely it is to see some of the kind souls giving back to the community at this time. I've seen countless more heartwarming stories of people posting care packages through elderly neighbours doors, of people going on shops for the lady two doors down who doesn't drive and lives miles from anywhere. I've seen people posting helpful tips on social media and all over the internet reaching out to those in need. I've seen people racing to the aid of new mothers who rely on formula they can't get and others offering their own supply. I've seen tiny local businesses offer free and contactless delivery and go above and beyond for the locals. Businesses offering free sanitiser to those more vulnerable. People offering freely their food and household products to those in need.

No only that, but we need to realise that in the midst of all this chaos, nature is thriving. I'm sure we've all seen the pictures of nature making a comeback with dolphins spotted in the Italian canals while heavy tourist attractions are given a break. Now, although it's been shown that the image of the dolphins was actually photographed in Sardinia, the state of the canals in Italy has improved drastically, nonetheless. The water clearer than ever, with full visibility to the bed and the fish. This is just the little pause nature needed to heal.


So get a reading list together, get your Netflix watch list lined up ready, have a spring clean, maybe start the gardening, bake a loaf of bread or a cake, put an old album on you've not listened to for years while you sort your wardrobe out or sort the pantry, put your favourite film on as background as you you plan a routine with the kids or do a workout/meal plan. Just settle in.

You might really enjoy yourself.


Please remember to be kind and think of others.


Peace & love,

H.T.


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