The global coronavirus outbreak not only raises medical concerns but additionally mental-health worries as we all struggle to cope with the issue. To help deal with the stress and anxiety, the World Health Organization (WHO) offers the following advice:
- Talk to people you trust, such as the friends and family. Remember, it’s normal to feel stressed, confused, scared, sad, or angry during a crisis.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle during this disruption inside your regular life. Whether you are practicing social distancing or working from home, try to eat a proper diet, get enough sleep and exercise, and keep up social contacts with loved ones by phone and email.
- Try to deal with your emotions and don’t use smoking, alcohol, or any other drugs to mask them. If you think overwhelmed, talk to a friend, or maybe it’s more serious, a health worker or counselor. Have a plan, know where to go to and the way to seek help for mental and physical health needs if required.
- Get the reality. Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable precautions. Look for a credible source you can trust, like the WHO website at www.who.int, or perhaps a local or state public health agency. Doublecheck what you hear or read — especially on social networking or the internet — and try to not fall for misinformation.
- Limit worry and agitation by lessening time you and your family spend watching or listening to media coverage that you perceive as upsetting. Avoid watching, reading, or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed; seek information mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones. Seek information updates at particular times during the day instead of all day long. The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried.
- Draw on skills you've used in the past that have helped you to definitely manage previous adversities, and use those skills to help you manage your emotions.
- Protect yourself and be supportive to others. Assisting others can benefit the person receiving support as well as the helper. It’s also important to practice empathy for those who are affected, in and from any country; those with the disease haven't done anything wrong.
- Celebrate the positive stories and images of people who have experienced coronavirus and have recovered or who've supported a loved one through recovery and therefore are willing to share their experience. And honor caretakers and healthcare workers supporting people affected with COVID-19. Acknowledge the role they play to save lives and keep your loved ones safe.
- Help children feel safe if you are a parent, caregiver, or family member by keeping them close. During periods of stress and crisis, it is common for children to seek more attachment and become more demanding. Discuss coronavirus with kids with honest and age-appropriate information. In case your children have concerns, addressing those together may ease their anxiety — and yours. Children will observe adults’ behaviors and emotions for cues regarding how to manage their own emotions during trying times.
- Maintain familiar routines in daily life as much as possible — especially if children are confined to home. Provide engaging age-appropriate activities for children. As much as possible, encourage children to carry on to play and socialize with other people, even if only within the family when advised to restrict social contact.
- Assist older adults — especially those who are isolated and those with cognitive decline or dementia — because they may become more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated, and withdrawn throughout the outbreak. Provide practical and emotional support through your family, caregivers, and health professionals. Share simple facts about what is going on and give clear information about how to reduce the risk of infection in words that older people with or without cognitive impairment can understand. Repeat the data whenever necessary. Instructions have to be communicated in a clear, concise, respectful, and patient way, also it may also be helpful for information to become displayed in writing or pictures.
