Mental Health and Covid-19

Covid-19 has affected as many as 1.42 million South Africans and caused 41 117 deaths. This has resulted in a surge of anxiety and depression amongst people. People are experiencing fear about contracting and spreading Covid-19.

The economy has been hit by a recession and South Africa's unemployment rate has been the highest it has ever been in 10 years. This leads to stress which can lead to the development of various mental disorders.

In addition, South African's daily lives are significantly restricted due to lockdown restrictions. South Africans have minimal social interactions and almost no physical contact with one another. Human beings are social animals and need interaction to thrive in their environment. The restriction on social interactions have led to a decline in mental health amongst many South Africans.

Religious gatherings have also been halted due to Covid-19 restrictions. These gatherings served as a support system that comforted many South Africans. Since these support systems are no longer available, many individuals might experience interpersonal conflict. Some people cope with this by going into overdrive and try to accomplish more than they normally would. This can become detrimental to our mental health because it can lead to burnout.

Tips to Improve your Mental Health

Ensure that you stay in contact with other people because isolation from others can result in anxiety and depression.

Try to establish a routine. It is important to have a healthy balance between being productive and relaxing. This will insure that you do not burnout.

Manage the information you are exposing yourself to. Please ensure that you are still informed on the relevant and important information regarding Covid-19. Tip: set a time where you get your information from the news and move on with your normal activity.

Ensure that you have a healthy lifestyle. Not only is diet and regular exercise important to keep your immune systems strong, but it also does wonders for your mental health.

Other resources:

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

Where to find help:

COVID-19 Public Hotline

0800 029 999

SADAG Mental Health Line

011 234 4837

Suicide Crisis Line

0800 567 567

References:

The South African National Department of Health. (2020). Your mental health during COVID-19. SACORONAVIRUS. https://sacoronavirus.co.za/category/mental-wellbeing/

WARNING

You may think that you recognize certain symptoms and/or disorders in yourself and others while reading this information! Please do not diagnose yourself because you will probably cause yourself unnecessary stress and distress. You are also, by law not allowed to make a diagnosis, as only registered Psychologists and Psychiatrists may do so.