– says Clinical Therapist and Traumatologist

TRINIDADIAN Clinical Therapist and Traumatologist, Hanif Benjamin, has underscored that individuals need to take “deliberate” action in order to maintain good mental health as they contend with the changes to daily life brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. Further, coronaviruses are a family of viruses, of which several are known to cause respiratory infections and illnesses in humans and animals. In December 2019, there was an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, and since then, the virus has spread across the globe, becoming a pandemic.

Not only has COVID-19 brought with it the threat of illness and even death, but Benjamin posited that there are a myriad of factors, resulting from the pandemic and the global response to it, that may have an ill effect on a person’s mental health.

“The two most common diagnoses that can occur during the COVID-19 period are depression and anxiety,” the clinical therapist said. And according to him, many factors may contribute to the occurrence of these.

The first major factor for concern is how people react to the many “unknowns” that result from the pandemic. Benjamin explained that currently, there is much uncertainty as to the extent to which the coronavirus may affect individual countries and how soon it will end. Exacerbating this “fear of the unknown”, as he calls it, are the measures instituted to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing is a measure that the WHO has recommended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that may be caused by breathing in small liquid droplets, containing the COVID-19 virus, emitted when a person coughs or sneezes. This recommended measure has, however, led to a sudden change in life circumstances, whether for work or school. Cognisant of this, Benjamin explained that the disruption to the persons’ daily routines and the incidence of isolation, both stemming from social distancing, are both factors that may also affect one’s mental wellness.

Benjamin highlighted that while social distancing, and by extension isolation, are pertinent to mitigate the physical spread of the coronavirus, these measures are not void of their effects on one’s mental health.

Importantly, the traumatologist underscored, “If you are already living with a mental illness, you will be in a position where this is exacerbated.”

Some signs that persons are experiencing some form of depression, throughout social distancing and isolation, include changes in sleeping patterns, whether by sleeping too much, too little or with disruptions; changes in eating patterns, whether by eating too much or too little; a loss of zeal to engage in activities; and, constant worrying.

When someone begins experiencing these symptoms, not only are they beginning to experience some form of depression, but this may also affect other aspects of a person’s mental health.

“This situation that we’re in can lead to anxiety, which is majorly (caused by) the fear of the unknown,” Benjamin said, explaining that anxiety first manifests within one’s thoughts, then affects one’s feelings before manifesting as psychological symptoms such as headaches, sweaty palms, and even diarrhoea.

Eventually, he explained that these manifestations may lead to panic and stress because persons then become “hypervigilant”.

Due to the increased susceptibility to the factors which may affect one’s mental health, Benjamin urged that individuals engage in “deliberate” actions to care for their mental health.

Though persons may find themselves becoming complacent due to being home for an extended period, he urged that individuals try, as much as reasonably possible, to maintain the routine they would have had previously.

Maintaining this routine despite having to work from home, care for children and family now at home or even attend school from home is essential in helping persons feel as though they have some control over the situation. This, he said, helps to keep some of the anxiety at bay.

“As we continue to understand anxiety, you need to understand what you can and cannot control,” Benjamin said. In this vein, he advanced too that persons should be wary of how much and how often information is consumed, given that worrisome news or ‘fake news’ may take a toll on one’s mental health. Additionally, he emphasised that persons need to become comfortable with sharing with their loved ones when they feel mentally taxed since it is absolutely necessary to have a support system in these unnecessary times.

Benjamin also stressed that maintaining personal hygiene, and physical health by eating well and exercising around the home, is also paramount to preserving good mental health. In addition to this, the WHO also recommends that persons continue to wash their hands continuously and avoid touching the ears, nose or mouth– all in an attempt to safeguard from COVID-19.

In Guyana, the government has enforced that citizens, with the exception of essential workers and when in need of essential items such as food, should remain home. Guyana’s airports are closed to international flights and a 12-hour curfew has been implemented.