— puts mental health issues back on the front burner, says clinical psychotherapist

THE “Pandemic fatigue” has resulted in an escalation of anxiety, reportedly caused an increase in domestic violence and drug use and has placed families and institutions under additional stress.

This is according to clinical psychotherapist, consultant, mental health expert and life coach, Shane Tull, who has been in practice for more than 25 years.
In recent weeks, Tull noted that many countries have been reporting an increase in “pandemic fatigue” as people are feeling demotivated following recommended behaviours to protect themselves and others from the virus.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pandemic fatigue is a natural and expected reaction to sustained and unresolved adversity in people’s lives. The WHO notes that an example is a demotivation to engage in protection behaviours and seek COVID-19-related information.
Tull is a Guyanese and has worked with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as special programmes at the David Memorial and Mercy hospitals.

COVID-19, he said has placed mental health issues at the forefront, not just in Guyana but throughout the world.
“I have been locked up in a concentrated area for more than four months and not being able to go out freely, having to observe social distancing, having to wear a mask and really take stock of our lives, it has been anxiety provoking for a lot of people and for the world at large,” the life coach told the Guyana Chronicle.
Six months after, he said there is no clear cut on how the pandemic will be arrested although two therapeutic companies have indicated that there is hope ahead in the next few months.

CONVERSATIONS
Some coping mechanism during the pandemic, he said include simply having conversation with children, neighbours, family members, and the use of technology and social media to connect with others.
The consultant said that visiting the park, seawall, having a picnic in the gardens or simple outdoor activities with persons at home or within the family can reduce stress levels.
“We can use this time to reconnect with persons and family members because, for some people, they enjoy staying at home and spending time with their families; but it’s a collective effort and families and communities need to be involved in making each other’s lives more supportive, and being conscious of the fact that I am wearing a mask shows respect for the wellbeing of others as well as protecting myself,” he explained.

Further, he said because persons are unable to move around since the advent of the pandemic, everyone’s stress level is intensified since there has been an increase in negative habits, such as alcoholism, domestic violence and drug use.
“People are having serious issues in their lives such as suicide and depression, and, generally, everyone is experiencing a level of generalised anxiety just because of the fact that we don’t have an idea of when the pandemic will be over and what the experts are doing,” he said.

Currently, he said people are frustrated and do not want to wear face masks anymore and do not want to observe social distancing as they get tired.
He explained that public health policies must address various issues to safeguard citizens as everyone is aiming to get out of the pandemic alive and together.
“The more we work together, the easier the pandemic crisis will be and we will be able to thrive and come out on the other side as a much better people, individuals and members of society,” he said.

REACH OUT
Tull noted that it is also important to reach out and assist the vulnerable population such as the elderly, people in recovery and women and children.
“It’s not easy for a mother that is home with three children, working from home, trying to homeschool the kids and manage all of their anxieties. Then if you look at poverty, some people do not have access to food and basic care; this pandemic has really compounded those needs and those are things from a public health perspective,” he explained.

Moreover, he said because of the pandemic, people with a history of drug use are already struggling but within the new environment, there has been a restricted level of support.
“People who are locked in will eventually self-medicate. Be vigilant about how you feel, be understanding; this is a pandemic we are all going through. Pick up the phone, call someone, send someone a text, the people in your life that you believe are strong and are not being affected by this, reach out to those people because when we act strong people lean on us and those people are not getting the support that they may need as well,” he said.

The pandemic, he said must be looked at from a broader perspective, where persons take care of themselves while taking care of each other.
Encouraging patience during the pandemic, he said, everyone must practise patience and be supportive in dealing with the various issues they encounter on a daily basis.
“We need to challenge ourselves to be of service; when we believe things are challenging for us, there are other people who are in more dire situations. We should look for people and places where we can go and contribute our time, or take some food. Do whatever little can be done to enhance the lives of others; it’s just as basic as that,” the life coach said.

He continued: “We are all stressed and need some kind of support and just pay attention to people who are close to you, if you are seeing vast changes in them, if they are normally engaged and they are no longer engaged, if you see anything outside the normal of their behaviour, reach out and ask them what is going on. I have noticed these things are happening, is there anything that can be done to offer support, try to really get involved.”

Further, he said many persons think issues surrounding mental health are a bad thing and its being rude and intrusive when someone reaches out, but many open up if given the opportunity.
“I have been coming to Guyana for the last four years every month in implementing skillset programmes and I have also been able to see patients while I have been there so it’s been a rewarding experience and I think Guyana has done a really good job on mental health but I do think there is a lot more to be done,” he underscored.