The mental health impact of COVID… and how we can help each other
The mental health impact of COVID… and how we can help each other
When we’re feeling down, talking about it can help. Reach out to someone close to you.
“This pandemic came to disrupt our lives and our health, both physical and mental.”
Those were the words of the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, at a recent summit in Athens about the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health.
The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us. It’s completely normal to feel down, even in everyday life, it happens to us all.
But with the added pressures, loss and disruption that COVID-19 has brought, people everywhere have struggled to find ways of staying positive.
There is a simple way that can help, whether gradually or instantly, and that’s talking and listening.
When we’re feeling down, talking about it can help. Reach out to someone close to you. Tell them how you are feeling. Or ask them how they are. Hearing someone share their feelings and emotions, or having your feelings heard, can help unburden some of the stress, worry, fear and angst that COVID-19 has caused.
Critical mental health services have been disrupted in 93% of countries during the pandemic. If you are feeling low and unsure who to turn to, or if you have noticed a friend or family member who isn’t coping well, try to take that first step and start talking about it.
For more information on coping with mental health, you can consult the WHO website here.
