Pandemic: Suggestions, resources for mental wellness
HALLOWELL — COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has had a global reach and is impacting both the physical and mental health of Mainers. The Maine chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Maine) knows that fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children, as well as exacerbate existing stressors and mental health concerns. It is important Mainers care for their emotional health during this time of turmoil. NAMI Maine offers the following suggestions for maintaining overall mental wellness, as well as recommendations for students and those working from home.
Take a break from social media and the news. It's important to stay informed, but if the constant updates and stories are causing stress, it's okay to turn off the phone or television to relax.
Get enough sleep. This is an important step towards preventing any illness.
Eat healthy! A well-balanced diet is a vital aspect of physical and mental health.
Practice mindfulness. Spend some time breathing or meditating. Mindfulness techniques can help us recognize negative thought patterns, such as catastrophizing, which might be exacerbated due to COVID-19. Some simple exercises and apps that can help may be found at www.pocketmindfulness.com and www.oprahmag.com/life/health/g29861798/best-meditation-apps/
Move and get some exercise. Even getting outside and taking a quick walk can benefit mental health.
Check in with your loved ones, near and far. If concerned about spreading COVID-19 or being exposed to it, consider calling, texting, or video chatting rather than meeting up in person.
Check in with a mental health professional. If you are seeing a counselor or therapist, consider bringing up how you are feeling about COVID-19 during your regular session. Give the NAMI Maine HelpLine a call at 800-464-5767, ext. 1, or the Maine Warm Line a call at 1-866-771-WARM (9276). If you or a loved one are in crisis, call the State Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112. More information regarding mental health and COVID-19 can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mental Health and Working Remotely
Many workplaces and schools are encouraging/mandating that employees work from home as a preventative measure. While this can be a great way to boost productivity and focus for some, it can also feel isolating and employees can miss out on important social interactions that take place in an office or work environment. Here are a few tips that can help:
Stick to a set work schedule, just as normal.
Maintain routines such as getting dressed for a typical work day, taking regular breaks, etc.
Create a dedicated, separate work space in your home.
Move! Get outside and take a quick walk on your breaks.
Find ways to communicate and stay connected to your team through Teams, Slack, Google Chat/Hangouts, etc. Much of our communication relies on body language, so having some facetime with your colleagues can be important.
Set boundaries — be sure to clock in and clock out as you would going to and from the office.
Mental Health for Young People and Students
“For most of us, having to unexpectedly leave or disengage with our community — even if just for a short time — can be stressful. If you’re feeling that stress, remember that is a natural response. Beyond that, others of us who live with anxiety or other mental illnesses can experience exacerbated symptoms from the added stress.” — Active Minds
COVID-19 has thrown a curveball into the spring semesters for many students. Check out Active Minds' recommendations on managing the stress of the coronavirus with kids whose learning might be changing venues or being disrupted.
A good resource on how to talk to kids about COVID-19 can be found at https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/pep20-01-01-006_508_0.pdf which includes some great tips for talking with children about infectious disease.
Many practices that you would employ to avoid the flu or a cold apply to preventing COVID-19 — handwashing, social distancing, avoiding nonessential travel, etc.
For information on the coronavirus and updates on Maine's response, visit the Maine Center for Disease Control's website at www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/ If you have other questions regarding COVID-19, reach out to Maine 211 at 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or e-mailing info@211maine.org. Also look at Govenor Mill's specific recommendations to help manage COVID-19 in Maine.
Due to the COVID-19, NAMI Maine has had to postpone some trainings and events. Information and updates can be found at www.namimaine.org/covid19. For updates about the status of upcoming trainings or specific events with NAMI Maine, please contact the appropriate event coordinator.
NAMI Maine’s HelpLine (800-464-5767, press 1 or helpline@namimaine.org) and staff remain available during this time and the public is encouraged to continue using NAMI Maine as a resource. The Waterville Peer Recovery Center will be offering digital peer support during this time, NAMI Maine’s Family Respite program remains operational, and NAMI Maine’s support groups and Family-to-Family courses are exploring remote courses and meeting options. Connect with your local NAMI Maine affiliate for more information.
For more information, visit www.namimaine.org/covid19 or contact NAMI Maine’s Public Relations Manager Alicia Hynes at 622 - 5767, ext. 2308.
