The World Health Organization (WHO) informed us of the consequences of the world’s mental health if governments and world leaders don’t recognize and work to address the problem, sooner rather than later. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated:

“The COVID-19 virus is not only attacking our physical health; it is also increasing psychological suffering: grief at the loss of loved ones, shock at the loss of jobs, isolation and restrictions on movement, difficult family dynamics, uncertainty and fear for the future,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message launching a mental health policy brief this week.

In short, there appears to be a growing recognition by policy experts, researchers, mental health professionals, and public health leaders that the coronavirus is going to have long-lasting, significant mental health effects for millions of people.

When we were first met by the arrival of the pandemic on our shores back in March, we had a very different set of challenges.  After all, a novel virus had hit us and we had little choice but to adapt and confront the many psychological battles along the way.   Maybe, there was more of a certainty and though we were undoubtedly challenged and stretched, we mostly coped. As we now enter the second wave of the virus, the world has changed whilst we have all been lurching and staggering along our own journeys back into this new normality.  Many of us are now fatigued, jaded, restless and confused. We are also facing the prospect of the dark and wintry months where our lives might feel more confined and suffocating. In the spring and summer months, we had the potent presence of sunlight and were mostly treated to a protracted period of glorious weather. We now encounter something very different with the probability that festive celebrations like Halloween and of course Christmas will be reduced to something unrecognisable and with little to look forward to.  We are also having to re-enter restrictive periods having started to come out of the initial ones and the uncertainty is more pronounced than ever.

So, how do we cope with this very challenging and uncertain period that lies ahead?

First, we need to acknowledge and normalise those feelings that we experience and allow that space for them. And of course, being able to talk about these and reach out for support, whether from family, friends, colleagues or professionally is essential for our wellbeing. We might be overwhelmed with so many overlapping emotions that it becomes confusing and tough to traverse towards something bearable.  We might feel anxious, uncertain, angry, frustrated, sad, bereaved, conflicted, unmotivated, isolated, impotent and so much more.

Anger is, perhaps, the emotion that is more present than it was back in March given the restrictions, fatigue and losses that most of us have endured.  Anger can be irrational and end up being directed towards those close to us given how insulated our lives are. Or we might scapegoat this towards external figures including politicians or certain groups who we might perceive to be responsible for the second wave. We might need to channel our anger in a more constructive way towards both managing and motivating ourselves through this.

Second, the structure and routine that got most of us through the first wave will be as imperative as it was back then.  We will need those daily routines of eating healthily, exercising when it’s possible, and enjoying the simple activities at home.  Perhaps, it will be even more important for us to limit the amount of news-orientated activities as well as the deluge of social media. Psychologically, we do need things to look forward to and to have enjoyable events in our diaries.

Third, creativity and connectivity will be important so we are able to make it possible to have altered versions of our old realities. We are already doing this of course by having virtual social activities with family and friends but these new ritual and events might need to be even more creative particularly as we become more confined to the indoors.

Fourth, collectivity was for many a strong force in the first wave.  Collective coping was quite symbiotic in that it allowed the burden to be shared in that we were able to look after other’s needs whilst also allowing others to do things back.  The more equitable and healthy societies are the ones that promote the greatest amount of collective well-being.

Fifth, the first lockdown gave birth to great creativity in many which served to channel a lot of their emotions. Creativity can be seen as broadly and flexibly s you wish and was not simply a set of sketches or a short story.  It was a liberating way of escaping the very concrete realities of everyday life and accessing a more playful and inventive space.

Since the early stages of this pandemic, we have heard much about the burgeoning mental health pandemic that would take a much slower course to run given the more immediate impacts that people we having to tackle.  We are already hearing reports of more people struggling psychologically and seeking support and this will only escalate.  I have had more new referrals myself in the last three months than in the 12 months prior to lockdown, whilst colleagues are busier than ever. The mental health toll from this pandemic will come from our grief, isolation, umemployment, fractured family relationships, and above all uncertainty. Right now, many people are feeling more alone than ever, physically isolated, fatigued and confused.  Though technology has helped bridge the social gap, our lives still feel deprived and as if they have been put on hold.  Perhaps, it is most important to ensure that we are kind to ourselves as we muddle through this period.