Mental Health and COVID-19: Self Care During Quarantine

Over 6 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the way offices, schools, businesses and other establishments operate has changed considerably. Most of us have switched to work or study from home amid a growing number of cases and safety measures brought in by governments around the world. Normal life has been disrupted.

Job losses and economic setbacks are only the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of coronavirus cases and an unpredictable future has led to several societal and personal issues. Mental health is one such issue that has slowly grown from being a taboo subject to a present-day reality. Isolation has led to rising levels of depression and loneliness for many.

Young children and young people are affected by the pandemic as much as any other age group. Instances of anxiety and depression among children are on the rise. As schools are set to remain closed or run at a limited capacity for sometime, it has become critical for us to address growing child and adolescent mental health concerns as well.

During these unpredictable times, it’s certain that we must support each other to ensure societies don’t fall apart. BioPharma Services has put together some suggestions to help support the mental health of you and your family during this period.

Social Media Distancing

Social media platforms do have an impact in our lives, sometimes for the better and other times for worse. It’s only normal that during quarantine, time spent on social media platforms has increased manifold. It’s fun to share new accomplishments on social media, but it shouldn’t be used as a metric for comparing yourself to others. If you begin to feel the content you consume on social media gives you anxiety or causes depression, it’s recommended that you take a break and focus on the positive aspects of life.

Adapt to New Technologies: The pandemic has introduced us to newer ways of socializing and staying in touch with family and friends. Can’t go out? No problem! This period has taught us new ways to connect, to an extent that many of us are enjoying our meals while on a video chat with friends and colleagues miles away. Since seniors are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, it’s only wise to keep family close via video calls.

Role Model for Kids: Children tend to learn from their parents and lead by their example so it’s important to not catastrophize the situation and encourage positive thinking. Taking care of your own health and well being while making your children a part of your morning exercise routine can prevent depression and strengthen family ties. Encourage healthy eating and good hygiene during these times to keep your young ones safe.

Physical Health:

Physical health is as important as your mental health. In fact, in many ways both go hand in hand. It’s important to fuel your body with healthful food and a balanced diet. Take deep breaths and stretch often. If it’s possible to step out for a walk or run, do so. A healthy body fuels a healthy mind.

Learn Something New: The pandemic has provided us with lots of time to learn something new. Staying home is a good opportunity to try out a new hobby. Reading books and developing new skills is something each one of us can attempt to do during these times. Journaling and recording memories are a fun and easy activities to try out and may even prove therapeutic.

Create Routines & Daily Plans: Staying home has thrown us all off our daily schedules. Normal routine activities have taken a backseat and the world is busy adjusting to the new normal. If you feel you’re unable to focus on daily tasks and are becoming unproductive, it’s time to start developing daily plans. This will not only help you become productive, but also help you stay on track with your goals for the year.

Addressing Mental Health Concerns: Examples of mental health concerns include but are not limited to, feeling sad or down, confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate, excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt, extreme mood changes of highs and lows, withdrawal from friends and activities, suicidal thoughts and more.

If you are facing mental health issues or know someone who needs help, the Government of Canada has resources to assist you overcome these challenges. If you reside in the US, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention too has resources to assist you with mental health challenges. It’s okay to seek help in times of crisis!

About BioPharma Services Inc.

BioPharma Services Inc. is a contract research organization that conducts research studies across all medical disciplines. Our offices and study sites are located in Toronto, Ontario and St. Louis, Missouri. For our current research studies visit our Volunteer Hub today.