COVID-19: Taking care of your mental health

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Message from Penny Streeter OBE

"During this challenging time, the A24 Group will continue to deliver services as normal. We appreciate your continued support, in helping the nation through the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic."

How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health During Lockdown

The 21-day nationwide lockdown is currently underway - 21 March until 16 April 2020. However, being on lockdown doesn’t have to be all gloom. It can serve as a period for self-reflection and taking care of your mental health.

We encourage that you give your mental health a boost of positivity through making use of tips and advice to help balance your mental state. Please take the necessary precautions as soon as you start experiencing unusual behavior. See below for common symptoms.

Common Symptoms

As information about Coronavirus unfolds and response plans are implemented, there can be a wide range of thoughts, feelings and reactions. Please recognize that there can be a wide range of reactions and that over the next few days or weeks you may experience periods of:

  • Anxiety, worry or panic

  • Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

  • Feeling helpless or confused

  • Anger

  • Scepticism or bravado

  • Social withdrawal

  • Overexposure to media

  • Hyper- vigilance to your health

  • Feelings of loss or grief

  • Excitement, relief, curiosity

According to SA Federation For Mental Health and All Africa, there are several tips available for you to apply daily to help alleviate your symptoms.

How To Keep Your Mind and Body Healthy During Lockdown

  • Manage your stress 

  • Find healthy coping mechanisms 

  • Engage in social activity

  • Watch what you eat

  • Engage in physical activity

  • Maintain daily routines 

  • Sleep regularly 

  • Stay in contact with mental health professionals

  • Keep yourself entertained

Manage your stress:

During the lockdown, you may experience worry about the status of your livelihood. It's bound to happen as you have lots of free time to dwell on negative issues. Try to assess the root of the issue by managing your stress effectively.

Find healthy coping mechanisms: 

Various coping styles are available depending on the situation of an individual. Some might prefer to listen to music or reading, whereas others prefer binge-watching on series or unhealthy eating. Medical academics advise individuals to partake in breathing sessions or meditation for a calming escape.

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Engage in social activity:

Communicate with your loved ones to help keep you sane, especially if you are in lockdown by yourself. Staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues will help stay you informed and motivated. This communication can be in forms of text messages or video calls.

Watch what you eat:

A healthy intake of food is important to balance your energy. Keep track of what you eat throughout the day to avoid burnout. Health24 gives five tips for healthier eating during the lockdown.

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Engage in physical activity:

You might find yourself limited to indoor activity. Here are five ways to keep active and fit during the lockdown.

Maintain daily routines: 

It's easy to lose track of your daily tasks, especially when you are working from home. Set clear boundaries for family and set work goals to help avoid procrastination. Tips on how to work from home

Sleep regularly:

Sleep plays a pivotal role in your mental and physical health. Adequate sleep at night is essential for you to perform your duties throughout the day. Five ways to help you sleep better at night 

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Stay in contact with mental health professionals:

Keep updated with reliable news sources -  this can avoid you falling victim to fake news.

Keep yourself entertained:

Spending a great deal on social media can expose you to stress-inducing content, which could be bad for your mental health. Here are some activities to keep you entertained.

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Important counselling services available

If any of your symptoms persists, please reach out to mental health professionals for advice or diagnosis. 

South African Depression and Anxiety Group – Call: 011 234 4837 
For more information visit: http://www.sadag.org/ 

The centre for Interactive Mental Health Solutions
For more information visit: https://cimhs.com/ 

Relatable enquiries about Covid-19

National Department of Health WhatsApp service - Call: 060 012 3456
For more information visit: http://www.health.gov.za/

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) - Hotline : 0800 029 999

For more information visit: https://www.nicd.ac.za/