Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, there have been heightened levels of anxiety and stress among the general public. There has been numerous pieces of advice offered from multiple sources, causing panic among the populations. Governments offer information on keeping yourself safe during this testing time, but we must also remember one more thing. Mental health is as important as physical health.  Maintaining good mental and physical health is very vital and important for our community as a whole. How do we address this situation? MHFA offers some pointers on how to keep yourself mentally and physically balanced.

General Public:

• Avoid news sources if they are causing distress to you. It is important to understand the facts. Rely on sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or the local government to keep yourself safe.
• Acknowledge health workers in your community and those who are supporting them as well.
• Be empathetic towards those who are affected. COVID-19 can affect anyone from any geographic location. Do not attach any ethnicity or nationality to it.
• Do not forward or encourage forwarding COVID-19-related news on Whatsapp, SMS, or other communication channels before verifying it as authentic information.

Young children:

• Children can get distraught when they come across such situations. It is important to help them express their emotions. Sometimes this can be achieved through activities like drawing, playing, or painting.
• When children are confined to their homes, it is better to keep up the daily routine as much as possible. Activity and socialization should also be encouraged, even if it is only within the family.
• Children learn from adults how to manage their emotions and behaviours. It is important for adults to be role models during times like these.
• It is common for children to be inquisitive and ask for information on COVID-19. Honest and age-appropriate information should be passed on to them. Do not admonish them for being inquisitive or discourage them from asking questions.

Older adults:

• Older adults with physical illnesses can show varied symptoms like aggression, anxiety, distress, anger, and withdrawal. Emotional support from family members, health professionals, and other informal sources should be encouraged.
• Information on the current situation can be shared in simple words without distressing the person. If prevention measures are to be given to the person, involve family or the support system.

People in isolation:

• If you are working from home or staying at home in isolation, keep yourself active among your social networks through communications such as messengers, email, social media, text messages, and phone calls.
• It is important to take good care of your physical health and stick to your daily routine as much as possible.
• Engage in activities that you find relaxing, such as reading books, listening to music, or playing.
• COVID-19 news is everywhere and can cause a considerable amount of distress. Consuming information from authentic resources and avoiding listening to rumours will reduce this.

Remember that medical teams across the globe are working around the clock to slow down the infection and discover a vaccine for prevention. Taking care of your mental and physical health is most important until a cure for the infection is achieved.