Hi guys, I am wondering if this information may be useful to anyone because of stress etc with the pandemic resurgence because of Delta in your country and mine.
Our NSW Chief Psychiatrist spoke at the daily pandemic press release we have in NSW yesteray and below is his advice. Hopefully you may find it helpful.
New South Wales residents in lockdown are going through "the most sustained and serious stress that many of us are going to face in our lifetimes".
But Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright said there were "simple and straightforward" ways to keep track of the mental health effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
"How we manage it is going to be really important in minimising the well-being and mental health impacts of the stress," Dr Wright said.
"What people need to do is to have a plan to manage their stress and to monitor it and review it on a regular basis."
Dr Wright outlined the following measures to take control of your mental health, while also looking out for your friends, family and loved ones.
Have a plan and create structure
With normal routines thrown into chaos with the closure of most workplaces and social outlets, Dr Wright has recommended trying to keep some structure.
Regular daily exercise - such as walking, running or gardening - can provide a sense of routine during lockdown.
According to Beyond Blue, exercise can help prevent and manage the symptoms of mild anxiety and depression, lift your mood, improve sleep and increase energy levels.
Dr Wright said it was also important to have regular contact with your loved ones to talk about how you are coping.
Stay healthy
Dr Wright said monitoring things like your diet, your sleep and your alcohol intake can help.
He encouraged people to set goals every day and review them.
"None of us always execute the perfect plan, but it's important to review it and renew it on a daily basis," Dr Wright said.
"The signs of things not working include difficulties with sleep, difficulties with concentration, feeling unduly fatigued, feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or consuming too much alcohol.
"If any of those things are happening either to you or people around you, you should make it a subject of consideration."
Ask people if they're okay
Dr Wright encouraged people to talk about how they are feeling with a trusted family member or friend.
"That never does harm," he said.
"It often does a world of good and making it a regular subject, as well as talking about the pandemic and talking about wellbeing, is really critical for all of us.
"It will minimise the impact and it will minimise the long-term impact of mental health issues long after the pandemic has gone."
Seek mental health help
Online organisations such as BeyondBlue have specific advice for managing during the pandemic.
Dr Wright said it was important to also be mindful of the mental health of the people around you.
"It is helpful to assume that everyone you come into contact with is also dealing with the stress and is impacted by the stress and may not be responding to the things around them in their usual way," he said.
"If at all possible, cut them a bit of slack on that basis.
"We expect that people will struggle from time to time, look out for the people around you, talk about what you are doing about it and reach out for help if you need it."
They also included lists of phone numbers and groups which would help but as they are Australian ones they wouldn't be of use in America
NSW's Chief Psychiatrist gives advice on how to cope with COVID-19 lockdown - ABC News
Regards to all
@matildagirl what terrific advice this is from your country’s chief psychiatrist. Given the cyber mischief and violent outbreaks we’ve had here in the US, we could use this advice. In fact it fits the regimen we have worked out in our own home.
I would add that we watch our daily intake of negative news and look for positive meaning in all that is happening both in our world and in our own lives.
Florida is currently averaging 21,630 NEW cases of Covid each day for and average of 151,415 new cases over the past week. This is the highest 7-day case average than at any time during the pandemic.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/13/health/florida-covid-numbers-update/index.html
Here we go again.
Abbott vs.counties ... "mask wars" round..? (I can't keep up with rounds any more.)
Round goes to Abbott as Texas Supreme Court upholds Abbott's anti-mask mandate until the after a court hearing next week.
I can't believe we are having this fight...
@lovendures NPR focused on the covid crisis in Mississippi this morning. Their hospitals are so overwhelmed with severe cases that the emergency rooms are telling people to stay away due to lack of capacity.
They said that all of the ICU cases were not vaccinated. (We know that the vaccines protect against severe covid illness.) Also they were seeing many younger people now that the delta variant of out. They wanted people to know that unvaccinated people in their teens, 20’s and 30’s are in ICU being intubated. Intubation is painful and terrifying. It also carries with it blood clots in the legs. So please if you are not and you qualify, get vaccinated! And if you don’t qualify, then use caution.
The tragedy of this situation isn’t just because of all those false claims that the vaccines are unsafe, but that their governor had turned away free vaccines for their state. So there were no vaccination sites in some counties.
The outrage is that the governor himself is vaccinated along with his family. He can now know that he along with those who made up factoids about unsafe vaccines are responsible for not preventing deaths and untold suffering.
If anyone in this community is not vaccinated, please get all the facts. If you don’t know how to navigate the studies we can try to point out the most reliable articles. In most cases, your chances of serious illness to you, or someone you infect, far out way the side effects of the vaccine.
I have immune issues and I did very well with the vaccine. Just a few days of side effects and that was it.
The tragedy of this situation isn’t just because of all those false claims that the vaccines are unsafe, but that their governor had turned away free vaccines for their state. So there were no vaccination sites in some counties.
The outrage is that the governor himself is vaccinated along with his family. He can now know that he along with those who made up factoids about unsafe vaccines are responsible for not preventing deaths and untold suffering.
The amount of needless tragedy going on with Covid right now is overwhelming isn't it? I think my mind is being traumatized trying to wrap itself around where we are standing as a human race with Covid. All the deception, anger, loss, grief, selfishness, fear, power plays and pain...
It is out of balance with the love, kindness, giving, hope, consideration, compassion and care that is also part of the covid crisis but has a much small platform and voice right now.
Meanwhile in New Zealand...
New Zealand goes on lockdown over 1 single covid case.
God forbid Abbott allows masks in schools. There are no pediatric beds left in North Texas.
@jeanne-mayell as of 10:30 am our towns Hospital has started turning everybody away - no room for anyone at this point... ER full and overflowing and can not take in anymore. Most of the hospitals in there NW Ga area are severe and overwhelmed status.
My 87 year old Aunt died yesterday from covid - she was living with her son, my cousin and his family. I know of several more people with it. Some vaccinated, some not... one is a teacher that had covid last year, did not get vaccinated and got it again this year 3 days after school opened. One is a former boss, vaccinated, never had it, caught it and had a very mild case.
It is beyond me.. .science and facts people... I posit that the viral Pandemic of Misinformation is an even deadlier virus and is more heartbreaking..because it could have been avoided.
I am so sorry to hear about your Aunt. May her memory be a blessing.
The hospital situation sound dire. People who have regular emergencies are also going to suffer.
I hope anyone who had covid will get the vaccination ASAP. Many who have had the virus are getting sick with it again when not vaccinated.
It is beyond me as well.
So, Gov. Abbott just tested positive for Covid.
He was fully vaccinated.
He has no symptoms.
He tests daily and his daily test was positive.
He is currently receiving Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment.
I would love to comment about EACH AND EVERY sentence I typed though I will refrain, for now. You however, are more than welcome to comment about each or any of the facts I just listed. We could write pages on each fact.
Warning, I have no idea how long I will keep quiet!!!
"He is currently receiving Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment."
I suggest researching his/his campaign donor's relationship with stocks in Regeneron. If he is "cured" by this treatment, I would imagine it would garner a lot of positive publicity.
@journeywithme2 I am so sorry for your loss over your aunt. Just so sorry. Sending love and care to the whole family. I can't imagine what you are going through right now. Praying for you and for all those who need care in Covid-afflicted places.
@jeanne-mayell Thank you Jeanne. I just spoke with my cousin, her brother and my Aunt were both vaccinated. He has it too and is quite ill with it. This Delta variant is wicked, and is burning through folks. I pray the rest of the family doesn't get it. I pray for all of those who aren't getting vaccinated to please do so...we won't overcome it.. if it keeps getting to mutate.
@lovendures after just losing my Aunt and knowing my cousin is still in the hospital, even after being vaccinated? Yeah.. don't get me started... I can not let that anger and despair and hatred fall from my lips.. I have to step away. Thank you all for all the prayers. A good friend who died a month ago? her daughter? Committed suicide last night. Part of me knows that many are leaving right now.. the Energy is too rough and painful for them right now??? But part of me is grieving and ANGRY at all of this.. because it didn't have to be this way.
Hi, that 1 case is now 7 and its genome sequence links it to our NSW outbreak, but they don't know how yet. They also don't have many vaccinated, the bulk of their vaccine is arriving in the last qtr of the year, so they need to be cautious.
Our outbreak is ramping up, with a big jump yesterday of 633 cases with 3 deaths. All the state is in lockdown now and it is being strengthened. Its going to get worse before it can get better but the vaccination rate is being ramped up, 53% of NSW now has 1 jab and 28% have 2 jabs, but I get the feeling I am not going out anytime soon.
Qld got on top of it and are now zero and VIC is doing OK of their 24 today only 6 were in the community, its just us in NSW. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, our Premier was trying to keep people working and with lockdowns in local govt areas which worked with the original Covid but with Delta, too infectious, you need to go hard, go fast.
best wishes
Well, it's Gov. Ducey's turn to continue to show his depraved side.
Remember, it is already state law to prohibit mandatory mask wearing on any school grounds. Many districts and all 3 state universities are going against the state law and mandating them any way.
Now he is actually bribing districts and parents to reject a mask mandate. Well, he calls them "incentives"...is there truly a difference?
In the latest political volley in Arizona over COVID-19 mask mandates, Gov. Doug Ducey is creating two grant programs that would provide funds to families and school districts that reject mask mandates.
Those measures come amid growing pushback against a state law that prohibits mask mandates in Arizona schools.
In a series of news releases Tuesday, the Governor’s Office announced extra money for families affected by mask mandates, as well as a grant program only school districts that “follow all state laws” would be eligible for.
In both cases, districts with mask mandates could be affected — either because they could be ineligible for the district grants or if families use the funding to leave their district.