Mental Health & The New World Order
Article and photo by Fariha Farooq
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been one of the most discussed topics across the globe. “Canadian mental health has taken a severe hit during the pandemic with the nation seeing exploding rates of anxiety and depression, increased use of alcohol and drugs, and difficulty accessing important supports, according to a recent survey from Mental Health Research Canada” (Campanella). Be it due to the emergency orders that minimized the occurrence of social interactions, or due to the mental toll associated with the uncertainty of financial, physical and emotional livelihood. As the majority of the world makes the transition to opening up cities and workplaces, it is important to understand that the mental health toll inflicted by this pandemic won’t just miraculously disappear. This pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another, and even with the transition to this new world order, the trauma will not be easy to recover from. Understandably, we are all adamant about resuming the normal activities that were halted due to the pandemic, however, we cannot ignore the mental health fallout that has resulted from this virus.
During the quarantine phase of this pandemic, we were all in what Mark Henick, a mental health strategist and speaker, calls “the active trauma phase”. In this stage, we all bear down and simply try to get through what is happening around us. This survival mode can be very taxing on a person’s mental health. Even though it is a sign of optimism that the world is opening up again, with no vaccine or cure in place for this virus, we all remain in fear of the possibility of contracting the virus. Will we all still feel comfortable going to crowded places again? Henick suggests that “people can start to retreat or fall into depression or find other ways of dissociating themselves with the trauma they experienced” after the threat has passed (Campanella). Even beyond the post-traumatic symptoms, lie the mental health stressors associated with returning to a new “normal” once again. Be it the rush of finding a new job, moving forward in school, or simply returning to our pre-pandemic lives, these activities create the possibility of experiencing stress, anxiety, and even depression, which can prove to be very detrimental to those who haven’t fully recovered from the initial trauma caused by the onset of the pandemic. Even for those who have been working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, being confined to a virtual workspace can ultimately prove to be overwhelming to the mind and body.
We must all take the necessary steps to prioritize our mental health and give ourselves the time and space to first recover from the pandemic itself. Here are a few tips to help improve our mental health:
1. Have a routine: With uncertainty comes procrastination and that has psychological tolls as humans need a lifestyle of structure. Even having a fixed sleep routine can make a world of difference.
2. Schedule activities that give you a sense of meaning, purpose, and accomplishment.
3. Schedule to connect with people virtually or in-person, keeping in mind social distancing measures.
4. Get outside: A change of scenery and the chance to connect with nature, all provide opportunities to practice mindfulness.
5. Be kind to yourself if you are having self-critical thoughts. Competition has been existent during COVID and will continue to exist in the post-pandemic world. It is human nature to be inclined to look towards what others are accomplishing, even if the world is going through trying times. What is important is to find your sense of place and identify how far you’ve come. Practising self-compassion will go a long way in helping us keep up, both physically and psychologically, with this new ‘normal’.
While these last few months have been unlike anything anyone could have anticipated and we are all in a rush to get back to our ‘normal’ lives, it is imperative to take a moment and reflect on the trauma we have all nonetheless experienced. We need to prioritize our mental health and take the necessary steps to recover. With mental health resources being widely accessible in these trying times, it is now more important than ever before that each of us surpass our own stigmatizations associated with mental health, and gain awareness of the many shapes and forms it can manifest in.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health-related crisis; here are some resources you can reach out to for support:
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566
- Good2Talk Helpline: 1-866-925-5454
Works Cited
Campanella, Emanuela. “Our Mental Health Won't Be the Same after Coronavirus Pandemic, Experts Say.” Global News, Global News, 18 Apr. 2020, globalnews.ca/news/6828046/mental-health-pandemic-coronavirus-covid-19/.