Looking after your mental health

Looking after your mental health in isolation or when working from home can be challenging. Here are some tips.

While this is a big challenge at the moment it will pass.

Remember you are part of a big community effort to protect the vulnerable

Staying at home in isolation or working from home is a very important contribution to the health of the community. Try to think of it as less of a challenge and more of a helping hand you are lending to others in need.

Stay connected with work-mates, friends and family by email, social media, video conferencing or phone.

Schedule regular times to communicate with friends and co-workers.

In your breaks or when not working, engage in a healthy activity such as gardening or craft or whatever gives you pleasure and a sense of accomplishment. Exercise is really important when you are isolated. If you can’t leave your home there are many exercise programs that you can join online.

Eating healthy foods is important to mental health. This may become challenging but try not to substitute your normal foods with unhealthy options

As far as possible maintain your normal routines. Try to eat and sleep at your normal times, it gives a sense on continuity.

Make sure that you reach out to others: a simple phone call can relieve pressure on someone feeling alone.

Reach out to friends and co-workers. Contact a group such as Beyond Blue or Lifeline. Contact your EAP for professional advice or your GP if you feel you are not coping.

By Gabe Gooding National Assistant Secretary

Maintain familiar routines in daily life as much as possible, especially if children are confined to home. Provide engaging age appropriate activities for children. As much as possible, encourage children to continue to play and socialise with others, even if only within the family when advised to restrict social contract. During times of stress and crisis, it is common for children to seek more attachment and be more demanding on parents. Discuss the COVID-19 with your children in honest and age appropriate information. If your children have concerns, addressing those together may ease their anxiety. Children will observe adults’ behaviours and emotions for cues on how to manage their own emotions during difficult times.

Source: WHO