COVID-19 and mental health: information & advice

The recent infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the COVID-19 disease, has rapidly become the most acute health problem worldwide, recently declared a “pandemic” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Over the past five days, drastic measures have also been taken in Romania, such as canceling all events with more than 100 people, closing schools and suspending the export of medicines abroad.

Most people focus on the threat that the virus poses to physical health, which should indeed be taken very seriously indeed: the virus is highly contagious and potentially lethal, and so far there is no cure.

However, we would like to point out that the impact of such an epidemic or pandemic on mental health is equally important. The permanent risk of contracting the virus, the flood of information and opinions that reaches us, the thoughts that involuntarily enter our minds, especially in quarantine and isolation, can have negative psychological consequences, especially for people with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as those suffering from anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive tendencies or who have suffered past trauma.

Mulți oameni fără trăsături faciale purtând măști medicale — © Shutterstock

Such times can seem scary, but there are a few things you can do, whether in isolation or not, with friends and family to look after each other’s wellbeing and mental health:

1. Only get your information from official and reliable sources

Being informed is extremely important to make the right decisions, but only with good quality information. Don’t listen to everything you read on the internet/social media. The website and Facebook page of the Ministry of Health, as well as the WHO page, are good sources to get your information, being also the main sources for news channels/websites.

O fată cu o privire confuză în fața laptopului — © Freepik

2. Follow hygiene tips

The easiest way to combat anxiety is to make sure you take all the necessary measures to prevent transmission, especially washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds; you can find the full list on the Ministry of Health website(http://www.ms.ro/coronavirus-covid-19/).

Imagini cu 3 sfaturi despre cum să te protejezi în timpul pandemiei de Coronavirus — © BBC News

3. Don’t spend all day looking for news, and try to limit the flow of information coming to you

Check in 2-3 times a day and then take a break from the information and try to think about something else. If you feel that the flow of information is too much, stop following unofficial news sources or people and stick to the bare essentials from official sources.

4. Be aware and open about your fears

It’s difficult to stop worrying, but you can be aware of it and not ‘hold it inside’: for example, by writing about it on paper or your laptop, or talking to someone you love. For specialized help, DepreHub have launched a helpline dedicated to anxiety and panic attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic(0374.456.420) and also offer free counseling sessions of up to 30 minutes.

5. Relax and look after your physical health

Actively try to reduce stress and anxiety by doing relaxation exercises and relaxing or enjoyable activities. Also try to get enough sleep, eat well and stay active.

Vedere prin fereastră a unei femei care stă relaxată și citește — Illustration by Brittany England

6. Try to stick to your daily routine

For some people, disrupting routines while at home can be detrimental to mental health. Continue, as much as you can, with a similar work/study schedule if it makes you feel good.

7. Avoid unhealthy habits

Stress and anxiety can exacerbate unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking alcohol. It’s important to be aware of this and try to avoid them, especially if they subsequently cause anxiety.

8. Think positive about the future

It’s perfectly reasonable to be optimistic that the pandemic will pass, especially as drastic measures have been and are still being taken in Romania, and the first countries to fight the infection (China, Hong Kong, Singapore) have already managed to control it. Treat this period as a (well-deserved) break or as an experiment of “virtual life”, and start planning for the future (e.g. how you will have fun in 6 months!).

9. Be around your friends and family

Social support is perhaps the most important part of mental health, and it can be jeopardized in conditions of social distancing. If you’re at home alone, keep communicating with friends and family online. If you have a loved one who is isolated alone at home, make sure they don’t feel lonely. Be open about your concerns and understanding of others’.

Trei persoane care comunică prin telefon, tabletă și laptop, respectiv — © Freepik

We hope our recommendations will help you get through this period! It’s important to support each other because, after all, we are all in this together!