Safetyware EHS Consultancy

Posted By:  Agnes | Apr 16, 2020

Healthy Mental and Psychosocial Well-Being During COVID-19

The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 has triggered the fear, anxiety and stressful situation among all people and communities across the world. It caused changing from a normal situation to an uncertain situation that everyone would find themselves in. This disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotional implications, especially to children, adult and the elderly.

As the pandemic induced the negative effects on mental health for some individuals, the impact may vary or differently among all age stages. Categories of people who may respond significantly to the stress of a crisis include, older people and people with chronic disease; children and teens; front-liners who helping with the response to COVID-19; and people who under isolation or quarantine.

World Health Organization (WHO) Departmental of Mental Health and Substance Use has presented a series of messages that can be used in communications to support mental and psychosocial well-being in different target groups during the outbreak.

 

Messages for older people and people with chronic disease.

The carers should provide practical and emotional supports through informal networks (families) and health professionals. In this state, this group of people is vulnerable to become more anxious, angry, stressed, agitated and withdrawn during the outbreak or while in quarantine. Keep sharing simple facts and clear information about ways to reduce the risk of infection and practice the prevention measures also contribute to a good mental and psychosocial well-being of them.

 

Messages for children and teens.

Parent plays an important role to help children and teens obtain positive ways to express feelings such as fear and sadness. Many kinds of activities can be created together such as playing or drawing which will facilitate the process. Maintaining daily life routines as much as possible or create new routines by providing age-appropriate activities for children. It will assure them to feel safe and less stressed.

 

Messages for front-liners who respond to COVID-19.

Take good care of yourself. Practice and use helpful coping strategies such as taking a turn to get enough rest during a work shift, eat balanced and healthy food that can provide energy, engage in physical activity although in constraint time, and stay in contact especially with family and friends. Team leaders also play a role to ensure all front liners away from chronic stress and poor mental state, maintain good quality communication and accurate information updates, and keep them aware of where and how they can access mental health and psychosocial support services.

 

Messages for people in isolation.

Stay connected and maintain social networks via telephone, e-mail, social media or video conference. Keep the personal daily routines as much as possible or create new routines if circumstances change. Also, engage in healthy activity, regular exercise, good sleep routines and a balanced diet which could promote the enjoyment and find relaxing. 

Indeed, everyone would react differently to a stressful situation depends on his/her background, things that make him/her different from other people, and the community that he/she live in. Thus, it is very important to take care of yourself, family and friends which able to help one’s another deal with stress. Indirectly, the community also will become stronger.

 

By Nurazyyati Abdul Rahman
Safetyware EHS Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. 
Junior EHS Consultant cum Trainer

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