How to Stay Mentally Healthy During Coronavirus Disease Outbreak

The current outbreak of the deadly virus (COVID-19) affected different people worldwide. It has negative
effects on the economy, health (mental well-being included), religion, relationships, transportation,
entertainment industries, education, etc. Several establishments are needed to be lockdown (like this beer hall),
people are compulsorily made to stay indoors for safety, different events are placed on hold, and so on.

You will know that one of the things people needed to place on balance is their psychological and emotional
state. COVID-19 can affect your mental health. During a pandemic, several individuals feel intensely different
emotions. Some of these emotions include loneliness, depression, anxiety, and other closely-related mental
health problems. Fortunately, there are different ways you can support and manage your mental health during
COVID-19.

Tips on how you can stay mentally healthy
Staying healthy is very important during a pandemic. It is advisable to work towards the prevention of some of
the signs that may indicate that your mental health is declining. Some of these signs may include difficulty
concentrating and changes in mood, sleep habits, weight/ appetite. Therefore, you may want to take the
following steps to stay mentally healthy:

● Take seriously your physical exercise and activity: To stay mentally healthy, you need to take the
exercise and activity you do seriously. These will help boost your mood—improve sleep, relieve stress,
and your entire well-being. You may do some workouts at home (you may not have the opportunity to
visit the gym because of social distancing), dance to your favorite songs, and writing in a journal.

● Take good advantage of technology: There are different apps for mental self-care. Some are free and
for some, you pay. You can get any of these apps on your device. It can help deal with anxiety and
depression, and assist with de-stressing and mindfulness practice.

● Be mindful of consuming much information on media: Media can heighten your level of stress and
anxiety. You should try to limit the information you consume on the media about COVID-19. It is
advisable to strictly get information from reliable sources like the Center for Disease Control.

● Maintain Connection with friends and family: To stay mentally healthy, you need to stay
connected with those that make you happy. There are different ways you can maintain social
connections with your friends and family. Due to social distancing, you can get in touch with them via
video chats, emails, handwritten letters, cards, or online groups or forums.

● Try your best to get things under control: Although there are some things you can’t control during
a pandemic, there are other things you can control. Try to focus on things like managing properly you
finances, washing your hands regularly, and limiting social contacts that are unnecessary. Ensure you
observe all the measures to keep you and your family healthy.

● Seek Mental health assistance: There are different challenges you face during a lockdown. Some of
these include working from home, physically distancing yourself from friends and family, home lessons
for children, and so on. The moment you realize that you won’t be able to stabilize your mental health,
you should urgently ask for help. Aside from asking friends and neighbors to help you handle some
responsibilities, you can reach out to mental health professionals.

There are different online counseling platforms. You can get in touch with a licensed mental health
professional through messaging, video chat, or phone. One of the best available platforms is
BetterHelp. Click here ( https://www.betterhelp.com/online-counseling/ ) to connect with a
counselor. A licensed mental health professional will help reduce your mental distress or help you stay
mentally healthy during social distancing.
Furthermore, there are other mental health service providers you can reach out to for assistance. These
include:
o Emergency child care
o The Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
o A behavioral health provider (a telehealth appointment)
o The COVID-19 Emotional Health Relief Line 1-833-442-2211
o Alcohol or drug helpline
o The Disaster Distress Hotline 1-800-985-5990

Marie Miguel Biography

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.