In the light of a new illness which is changing people’s behaviour, a look at mental health, in the context of mass change in behaviour, is probably timely.
Key mental health problems in any society potentially divide into three types:
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problems of isolation (loneliness, alienation, feeling different, bullying, prejudice)
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problems of stress (pressure, overload, hyperattention, overwork, work-life balance)
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problems of despair (loss of meaning, loss in general, specific bereavements, loss of supportive environment)
Obviously these overlap, but it’s a useful categorisation because helps us to be more specific in seeing what might be done to mitigate different types of mental illness in a particular context.
ISOLATION
Specific measures we can take to mitigate isolation are:
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MORE FREQUENT COMMUNICATION – increase the frequency of non-contact communications such as phonecalls and messaging
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GO ONLINE – facilitate for each other, especially the elderly, means of online communication
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OFFER FRIENDLY SIGNS – make more effort to wave and smile… these are good non-contact ways of being inclusive
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FIGHT PREJUDICE – include strangers in our smiling responses – we don’t know what they may be going through
STRESS
Specific measure we can take to reduce stress are:
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REDUCE EXPECTATIONS – where possible, be clear that less is expected, while everyone adapts
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MORE FREQUENT SUPPORT – check more often whether anyone needs extra support in their job, activities or life
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MORE FREQUENT BREAKS – make it part of our culture to take standard breaks (enculturation reduces guilt)
DESPAIR
Specific measures we can take to work with despair are:
Specific measures we can take to work with despair are:
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MORE FREQUENT CONTACT – Social contact, even phone and online, can stop spirals of despair
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LISTENING – People suffering loss are often afraid of burdening others with their thoughts – good listeners are valuable
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VOLUNTARY AND STATE ASSISTANCE – Helplines, advice lines, free services, and counselling, are all ways to allow the reintroduction of hope
WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO TO HELP?
Collating the above into a coherent personal strategy, we can help each other by:
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Communicating more frequently and widely, by phone and online
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Checking more often whether help is needed
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Taking time to listen more
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Participating in help lines, advice lines, and support services
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When out in public, giving out positive signals, even to strangers
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Allowing more frequent breaks – making a virtue of it
In short, while physical contact is limited, and resources are too, we may all benefit from developing a stronger public spirit.
Remindful UK 