A World on Pause: Mental Health in Lockdown
Judy Hughes, General Manager, HealthLink360
How are you fairing in this time of lockdown?
Perhaps, like me, you are grappling with working from home and missing the daily interactions with colleagues. Maybe you are juggling work with childcare and home schooling or supporting an elderly relative. Perhaps you are struggling with isolation, loneliness and feeling distanced from loved ones. Some of us will also be shouldering responsibility within our organisations and perhaps feeling very anxious about the future.
Coupled with that, are you finding that the virtual world has become all-consuming? I am amazed at the creativity, imagination and commitment of so many people and am so thankful for the technology which is enabling us to stay connected and engaged.
Yet the plethora of activity, along with incessant news coverage can be stressful and overwhelming, impacting our mental health and wellbeing; leaving us feeling ‘zoomed out’. In response, the psych team at HealthLink360 put together some simple tips to aid mental health and resilience, which were shared in our blog a few weeks ago. I wanted to share them again for those who missed them the first time. Please do pass them on to your friends/families/colleagues.
We have all been impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and are having to adjust to new ways of being. May God bless and protect you and your loved ones.
- Judy Hughes
MENTAL HEALTH: TOP TIPS
Find a new rhythm by developing a daily routine. Keep doing the essentials, and each day include something purposeful (but not too ambitious) and something pleasurable.
Use this time to invest in what really matters: friends, family, children, spouse, God. No one said on their deathbed “I wish I’d spent more time working/cleaning/washing’ things.” Of course, some things need to be done. But this is a golden opportunity to invest well and be creative.
Stay plugged into what’s healthy. Switch off media overload, social media and anything that is negative, untrue, or causes fear instead of faith and hope.
Go outside, if possible, for a change of scenery. Being in the fresh air and close to nature is good for lifting our mood. Notice nature and how it makes you feel. Regular exercise is helpful; running, walking or following an online fitness programme.
Limit our consumption of info about the crisis. That means news sites, social media and television news. Beyond a basic knowledge, how much you know about this can stress you out and feed your fears. Try boxing your consumption into one 20-minute slot each day.
Don’t ruminate on it. Rumination shows up in nearly every mental health disorder. The trick is to notice that the thoughts (fears, facts, rumours etc.) are there in your head, but to refuse to engage with them. They’re like buses that come and go; notice them, but focus on the beautiful world around you.
Connection to others is vital and a basic human need. Stay close to family and friends by phone or virtual meet ups to check on wellbeing and reduce anxiety about how they are.
For further reading and advice:
BBC article on ‘Zoom fatigue’: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting
NHS Inform's 5 steps to mental wellbeing: https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/mental-wellbeing/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing
HealthLink360 is a unique Christian charity within the UK, offering invaluable medical and psychological health support to missionaries, humanitarian personnel, church leaders and others. During this period of lockdown, we continue to offer some medical and psychological services remotely. For more information, visit www.healthlink360.org or email admin@healthlink360.org, where you can also register for an appointment with our travel clinic which will re-open once government restrictions have been lifted.