Being proactive to promote mental health during COVID-19

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Between the never-ending media maelstrom, worries about finances and the health of loved ones, and disruptions to regular routine, COVID-19 could be a catastrophe for mental health.
But there are steps one can take to disrupt despair.
A first step is to gain a point of reference by performing consistent mental health checks, to self-assess one’s state of mind. A “quick and simple” approach is to consider how your mood scores on a 10-point scale, “with 10 being the best,” said Rachel Dundas, owner and executive director of Wheatland County Counselling.
Reporting consistently low scores may indicate professional support is needed, said Dundas.
“If people feel their life is being overtaken by worry or sadness, find they are consistently scoring themselves lower than a five, or are finding it difficult to function in their daily lives, they may wish to consider seeking support from a professional,” she said.
However, for those who don’t want formal counselling, but are still anguished by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of approaches to try to feel better.
Limiting discussions about the virus could help, especially if they tend to “trigger you” or “escalate,” said Dundas.
“Practice maintaining a balanced perspective and not catastrophizing the situation,” she said. “People have faced many difficult circumstances in the past and life goes on.”
Dundas recommends using tried and true coping and self-care strategies that have been personally successful in confronting or counteracting stress.
Strategies recommended by the Canadian Mental Health Association include periodically “unplugging” from technology, challenging worries and anxious thoughts, practicing relaxation and meditation techniques, healthy eating, avoiding substance abuse, staying active, and getting proper rest and sleep.
Key indicators that children may be feeling distressed include major changes to mood, appetite and sleeping patterns, said Dundas, who recommends parents work alongside kids to have a daily routine including “fun time, screen time, exercise and chores.
“Let them be a part of deciding what the routine should be,” she said.
For parents, honesty about the current situation is essential, said Dundas.
“It’s okay for parents to admit they don’t know the answer to something,” she said. “Parents should ensure they are providing factual information to their children and not allowing their anxiety to run rampant.”
Wheatland County Counselling, in partnership with Strathmore Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), offers counselling services to assist with myriad challenges. In-person counselling services continue to be provided, under the condition that clients have not travelled in the past 14 days, clients and their families have no symptoms of illness, and they wash their hands upon arrival. For those who are quarantined or have compromised immune systems, phone or video sessions are available.