The current coronavirus pandemic has caused many people concerned for loved ones to seek for their mental support. A lot of people, including loved ones, have been mentally affected and need support, especially those that are in quarantine. Therefore, Americans are learning to manage changes the epidemic has brought to their homes, work-places, and schools.
Probably, you might be wondering the best way to provide mental health support to your loved ones during this period.
Well, such worries are valid to almost everyone who is also experiencing COVID-19 outbreak challenges. Also, it is challenging and stressful to know how best you can assist your loved ones, especially when self-quarantine or social distancing is the latest standard for preventing transmission.
The Sudden Effects of Pandemics on the Mental Health
According to research published in 2012 study in Comprehensive Psychiatry about the SARS effects on mental health, researchers found that quarantine increased the likelihood of experiencing depression after three years.
Additionally, patients with pre-existing health conditions such as anxiety disorders were at higher risk for developing negative psychological consequences during self-quarantine. The reason was due to lack of usual routine, and absence of social and physical contact with others, which resulted in feelings of boredom, isolation, and frustration.
Therefore, due to these reasons, the best option to consider is to know how to provide remote mental health support to minimize psychological conditions resulting from isolation. Below are a few ways to support a loved one affected by coronavirus.
Call and Communicate With Your Loved Ones
One of the most accessible and available steps to help your loved ones is to call and checkup how they are doing. To ensure your loved one doesn’t feel lonely or isolated, remember to keep in touch by making frequent calls. Communication and interaction create bonding and removes any negative emotional feelings, which might cause mental health disturbance.
Also, due to advanced technology these days, you could consider video calls or online chats using phone apps if it is possible.
Otherwise, in case you have tried contacting your loved one without receiving any reply, you may consider seeking emergency assistance to check their status.
Pay Attention to their Burdens and Offer Help
Whatever method you use to communicate with your loved one, pay close attention to any burdens they might be facing. For instance, they might have issues with finances, household chores, and responsibilities to accomplish, and many more. The best thing to do is to ask how you can help them and relieve whatever burdens they are encountering.
It is very easy for burdens to make a patient become overwhelmed mentally or develop mental health disorders such as depression. The reason is that any patient overwhelmed with unaccomplished responsibilities may have many thoughts racing on their minds on how to solve such issues while being in quarantine. Therefore, providing help is crucial to reduce the chances of adverse psychological effects.
Support for Coronavirus Mental Health
While it is unavoidable that many people will suffer negative psychological influences of coronavirus, following some simple steps can offer support to an isolated loved one affected by it. There are lots of other ways you can provide mental health support to people affected by a coronavirus. Ensure you contact us, and we will follow up and give the best advice.
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