It is triggering Anxiety and Depression

Here are some of the ways :

• "What is there's never a cure?"
• Grief and loss for the "life that was" before coronavirus
• Feeling trapped in quarantine
• Feeling hopeless about the future
• Feeling your attachment needs are threatened
• Increased job insecurity
• Increased survival model
• Feelings of despair
• Questioning your previous worldview (e.g maybe everything doesn't always work out)
• Losing faith in humanity as others aren't taking the pandemic seriously
• I don't know if I will get through this
• This will never end
• I have lost everything
• Feeling helpless about current struggles (e.g financial)
• Questioning Yourself

Loneliness and Social Isolation

Quarantine and social distancing are necessary measures to prevent the virus from spreading but also lead to elevated levels of loneliness and social isolation, which in turn produce physical and mental health related repercussions. Adopting appropriate steps to keep social and familial connections, maintain healthy activities, and manage emotions and psychiatric symptoms can help relieve the adverse consequences of loneliness and isolation.

Understand that everyone reacts to stress differently

If you find someone coping with the pandemic better than you are, don't be hard on yourself. How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors. Also conversely, if you find your friends/loved ones struggling, do try to look out for them. However, no matter what, make yourself and your mental health a priority.

Maintain Social connections

Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as by providing social support, can also make your community stronger. During times of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated.

Ask for help

Do not hesitate to ask your friends/loved ones for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. If they aren't able to help you, seek out professional help without associating any shame/stigma with it.

Don't Neglect your health

Healthy ways to cope with stress

• Take care of your emotional health by connecting with others,taking breaks etc.
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise Regularly
• Eat healthy
• Take some time out to pursue enjoyable activites or a hobby

It is normal to feel fearful and anxious during this time.​

Talking about your feelings will lessen your distress.

Set a time when you will check COVID-19 updates, and limit how long you spend reading or watching them each day.​​

It is important to spend time doing things you enjoy and find relaxing.

If you feel stressed and overwhelmed, talk to your colleagues or supervisor about your feelings and challenges.​

Frontline and other essential workers can protect their #MentalHealth by accessing on-site or remote services (e.g. telehealth) for therapy, advice and other forms of support. ​

Maintaining connections between people diagnosed with COVID-19 and their loved ones can help protect their mental health.​

People diagnosed with Covid-19 deserve compassionate care. Helping them stay connected to their loved ones by phone,video or messaging can provide comfort during isolation.