Getting through
Anxiety, loneliness, and fear are just some of the emotions we may be experiencing in pandemic lockdown, writes Tamahere Forum.
But caring folk ranging from All Blacks legend and mental health champion John Kirwan to ex-Google exec and author Mo Gawdat to the Waikato emergency ops team have all got options to help us through.
Kirwan has made his well-being app, Mentemia, free to help Kiwis during the crisis.
Mentemia – Italian for ‘my mind’ provides practical tips and techniques to help users take control of their mental health and well-being.
The app helps people keep up their normal routine as much as possible when it comes to sleep, nutrition and exercise, all essential to reducing stress and anxiety. Click here for Mentemia.
Golden podcast
Meanwhile, the author of the best selling book Solve for Happy, Mo Gawdat, has done a special Covid-19 podcast with award-winning UK podcaster Elizabeth Day on how to handle the anxiety of the pandemic. Listen here.
In a podcast well worth an hour of your time, Gawdat and Day talk about how to handle negative thoughts, how to practise gratitude and the concept of ‘committed acceptance’ which focuses on a) accepting the situation and b) within that acceptance, working out what you can actively do to make life better.
Locally, the the Hamilton-Waikato emergency ops centre reminds people that if they need to seek help they can call 1737 – the Ministry of Health’s 24-hour confidential support line.
Anyone struggling with emotions or feeling the pressures of this sudden change to life can call the 1737 support line to speak with a trained councillor.
Or take a look at some of the wellbeing campaigns and public information, including the Getting Through Together – Whāia E Tātou Te Pae Tawhiti toolkit which has been created by the Mental Health Foundation, available at allright.org.nz.
It has been set up for coping with the effects of COVID-19 and the Alert Level 4 lock down and provides proven ways you can help yourself and others during lockdown.
Wellbeing tips
A few tips for looking after your mental health and wellbeing from the Mental Health Foundation include:
- Find ways to connect
- Find ways to take notice
- Find ways to be active
- Find ways to give
- Find ways to keep learning
- Spend time with nature
- Stick to your routine (or start a new one)
- Explore different ways to relax
- Limit the amount of news you follow
