Anallely Alvarez
Eric Elliott
English 101
11/17/2020
Mental Health
According to WHO panic, worry and anxiety are ways in which people respond to uncertainty and unknown situations. In cases like COVID-19, people are afraid because of changes in their daily lives such as restricted movement, working from home, unemployment, online learning for children, and lack of physical contact and wearing of face masks. All these abrupt changes have an effect on both mental and physical health of people (Park et al.).
Mental health affects a broad area of people’s lives. It affects the sleep patterns where one has difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, loss of appetite and poor eating habits. In terms of socially and economically it affects one career, education and relationships with friends and family. People suffering from mental illness can also suffer from alcohol or drugs and other addictions (Park et al.). Mental illness does not only affect at an individual level but also families, community and nation. For example, if an individual cannot perform at their workplace, it means they will have no income and if they are the breadwinner in a family, they are also at stake. This affects even the nation at large because individuals are not productive.
Another group of people having mental health problems are the students as they receive pressures from their parents and teachers. It is funny to observe that the main concern of people in the current generation is to focus on academic performances rather than minding about the mental health of their children. There is a need to balance between the mental health of the learners and the academic performances of these learners as they are both important.
According to the CDC, children and teenagers may react differently to stress. For children and adolescents there may be excessive crying, change of sleeping patterns, so much worry, unhealthy eating and having behaviors they have outgrown. For teenagers, the stress may lead to poor performance in academics, poor concentrations, headaches and body pains, and indulging in substance abuse (Park et al.).
In the case of COVID-19 pandemic, the people most likely to suffer from mental health illness are: the elderly, those with other underlying conditions such as terminal illnesses, those with mental health conditions and those caring for family members and loved ones. This group of people is likely to have more stress because according to WHO they are at a high risk of contracting the virus (Pfefferbaum et al.).
For children, parents are advised to have communication with the children often, keep assuring them they are safe, let the children continue with their normal routine and limit them from news coverage even on social media. The parents also can explain to the children about the pandemic and what it is. Get to know their understanding and correct any misunderstanding they have. This helps them to have the correct information and thus reducing the stress.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, most people have been required to work from home. This has its side of challenges. Most people have stress on how to handle domestic work and work assignments at the same time. In trying to blend both, most people may find themselves working for long hours. There are various ways one can overcome these challenges. One can set up a working area where there are no non-wok disruptions such as other family members. Also, one should discuss with the other family members about their plan and schedule but also be flexible in case one needs to be attended to. Another strategy is having a schedule. This is important in maintaining healthy eating habits, connecting with other people, healthy sleeping and hygiene (Carol S, 2020).
Another cause of mental illness is loneliness especially in these times of COVID-19 where there is restriction of movement and keeping social distance (Carol S, 2020). According to WHO, the people at high risk are the elderly and those with mental illness. To cope with this, individuals should do some form of physical activities such as exercise and maintain social connections. Social connections with loved one can be done through digital platforms such as zoom. Individuals can also utilize the time and do the things they enjoy to do by themselves but they have not had time to do them. Activities such as reading a book, trying a recipe, a body care routine, gardening, writing, stroking a pet, arts and crafts, virtual tours and live stream yoga and other workouts.
During uncertain times people experience high levels of anxiety. To cope with this, individuals can do simple relaxation techniques such as breathing in and out, or meditation as they help relieve anxious thoughts. One can also access materials on other relation practices online. When these activities are done regularly they help reduce stress and anxiety. Individuals can also join wellness programs online where most of them are free (Crystal).
In times of a pandemic such as the COVID-19, it is advisable to stay informed but not watch the news so much. Staying informed is important so one can follow what is happening and safety measures given. Also one is able to know what the authorities require of them and take personal protective measures. On the other hand, it is good to get information from verified sources such as WHO and CDC because some information only instills fear, is incorrect and some are just myths and misconceptions. It is good to check what one is watching or reading. To achieve this; check only trusted sources, limit the number of times one checks for updates and one can refrain from the media if they start feeling overwhelmed. One should also refrain from sharing information that is not from a verified source as this increases anxiety and fear to other people who receive the information (Crystal).
To have a good mental health in times of the pandemic, one should try and focus on the things they have control over. Focusing on questions like what will happen, when will the pandemic end, what is the government doing, will only increase our fears and anxiety because they are questions without answers (Kontoangelos et al. 2020). Instead of this, one can focus on what they can do at a personal level to reduce the risk such as wearing a facemask, washing hands for 20 seconds, sanitizing, avoiding crowds, staying at home, maintaining social distance and following all the guidelines set by authorities (Crystal).
The best way of maintaining mental health is taking care of one’s body and spirit. Even with the disruptions caused by the coronavirus one should; be easy on themselves, maintain their routine such as sleep and meals, do the activities they enjoy like reading a book, go out and enjoy nature if possible, do some exercises such as cycling, yoga, and do not use substances such as alcohol to reduce anxiety ( Crystal).
Listening to music also helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Music helps in various ways; it helps one divert attention from the issue that is causing stress and anxiety and also activates and excites one’s body (Crystal). According to researchers, music helps the body produce immunoglobulin A and natural killer cells that attack viruses and improves immunity of the body. Music also reduces the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
Individuals can join other community members and faith-based organizations such as churches. This can be done through the online platforms due to the social distancing measures in place. It can be through social media, phone calls, or emails (Kontoangelos et al. 2020). There can be praise and worship sessions, prayers and even sermons that have a message of hope. This will be important as one can pass and receive a message of hope and this will help reduce stress and come it (Crystal)
In conclusion, mental health can be maintained easily without expenses. It is just about having things such as self-care routines like exercising, maintaining hygiene, eating healthy, having good sleeping patterns. Maintain social connections through phone calls, digital platforms such zoom. Avoid so much news from unverified sources because they spread fear (Kontoangelos et al. 2020). Enjoy hobbies like reading books, cooking, gardening, and watching. Also avoid self-medication with substances such as alcohol and drugs. Finally, have a balance between domestic chores and work assignments if possible, have a schedule for each day and a specific place for working. All these are strategies that can help maintain mental health. One should use that which is appropriate for them because different people react differently to stressful situations. Also in terms of hobbies, people have different activities that they enjoy doing by themselves. Finally, when people are mentally healthy, they will think clearly and therefore, follow the guidelines put to protect themselves and their families. This will in turn help reduce the spread and infections of coronavirus.
Works Cited
Kontoangelos, Konstantinos, Marina Economou, and Charalambos Papageorgiou. “Mental health effects of COVID-19 pandemia: a review of clinical and psychological traits.” Psychiatry investigation 17.6 (2020): 491.
Pfefferbaum, Betty, and Carol S. North. “Mental health and the Covid-19 pandemic.” New
England Journal of Medicine (2020).
Park, Crystal L., et al. “Americans’ COVID-19 Stress, Coping, and Adherence to CDC
Guidelines.” Journal of General Internal Medicine (2020): 1.
