MHM Magazine

Issue 2 | 2021 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | 27 MHM societal and individual effects of the pandemic are likely to cause distress in even the most mentally well individual, trigger mental illness in others and exacerbate already existing mental illnesses potentially leading to relapses. Holding in mind this complex landscape of emotional and mental challenges highlights the role that can be played by practitioners for support. The starting point can be to acknowledge the patient’s distress and provide basic counselling for these reactions through four steps: Another important strategy for addressing distress reactions in patients is through providing education and correcting misinformation. Encouraging patients to remain informed about the current trends and restrictions in alert levels could be important in how they keep themselves and families safe. This might mean directing them to credible sources of information and correcting perceptions which may be inaccurate. Part of educating patients is acknowledging the negative impact too much information can have on their minds and advocating for them to restrict the amount of content they consume daily to mitigate this. While you may advocate for less information exposure it’s important that patients don’t avoid their feelings about this time. Remaining present in all emotions including the distressing ones is crucial to sustainable emotional wellbeing. It might be easy for patients to slip into avoidant strategies, relying on unhelpful tactics to make themselves feel better, such as: using food unhealthily, substances, relationships or other unhealthy means to distract themselves from their worries. But since the consequences of avoidance will result in worse outcomes, instead highlight the importance of developing a sense of presence and awareness in their life using mindfulness. This skill allows them to remain in an active state of attention where they can observe thoughts and feelings from a distance without judgement but rather acceptance. For help developing this skill, they can try out the app “Headspace” or look up information online. While one may not be able to maintain perfect mental wellness all the time, individuals can work to maintain a stable sense of mental health. This means reacting or feeling setbacks and challenges and then moving on from those setbacks and challenges in appropriate timing. Maintaining mental wellness is also about acknowledging and holding onto the moments of joy experienced and remembering things to be grateful for in life. It’s about not just focusing on only positive or negative aspects in life but being able to balance what’s going well with what may be challenging. Keeping the balance between proactively encouraging steps to managing mental wellness with gaining professional support and help for stress reactions already present is a key area where patients need input. COVID has brought many challenges and negative impacts on health but it has also brought opportunities to learn, grow and connect! As practitioners, we play a unique role, during this time, to provide a much needed perspective and support to our communities. References are available on request. ACKNOWLEDGE That their stress exists and help normalize it: "I see that you're stressed, and that's understandable. Many people are feeling this way right now." RECOGNIZE Teach patients to recognize the signs of distress such as worry, fear, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and interpersonal problems, avoiding certain situations at work or in daily living, unexplained physical symptoms, and increased use of alcohol or tobacco STRATEGIZE: Discuss strategies to reduce distress, which can include: • Being prepared (e.g., developing a personal / family preparedness plan for the outbreak). • Taking everyday preventive measures (e.g., frequent handwashing). • Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. • Talking to loved ones about worries and concerns. • Engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy to improve your mood. • Promoting work-life balance REFER If a patient is experiencing severe emotional distress or has a diagnosable mental illness refer for specialized mental health care.