Step 3 narrative essay

Step 3 Essay- Search for solutions

Written by Lakxhana A/P Selva Rajah

Corona Virus (Covid-19), a deadly pandemic that has affected human beings all around the world both physically and mentally. Covid- 19 is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of a common cold. Despite its complicity, this virus is almost ubiquitous. It has caused millions of deaths and unfortunately millions more. It is undeniable that the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected many people’s mental health and it still is. This is because many facilities had to be stopped from operating because of this life-threatening disease. Therefore, people with mental health issues can’t seek guidance and help from their therapists, psychologists. This pandemic has definitely caused intense perturbation and panic among the people.

On the bright side, the Internet and online platforms are being used constantly since the government has declared that the citizens have to stay in their homes and away from other people. Citizens are only to engage in public activities when it’s necessary. The more closely one interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of Covid-19 spread. Therefore, people are advised to stay at home and work from the comfort of their homes online as it ensures their safety.

Online platforms can be used to help those who are struggling with their mental health. First of all, easy access to mental healthcare services should be provided. The authority, the government should improve access to mental healthcare. They should increase online platforms or mobile applications so that people can seek professional help during the lockdown without having to leave their homes. Besides, they should train more specialists in this field to deliver the best experience possible for customers and for those who seek help. The authority should increase the number of mental health specialists and train non-specialist to deliver the best service. By implementing this, we don’t have to worry about the lack of specialists in this field.

Mental health can be overwhelming sometimes. Depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and everything else can be immense and unbearable. As complicated as it sounds, one, who struggles with any of those will have to learn to deal with his/her stress or whatever he/she is going through. We should put ourselves first before others. By putting ourselves first means being as kind to ourselves as you are to others. It means taking care of yourself so you can be more productive and organized and a better person in general. It means just loving yourself a little more and that's not selfish, it’s necessary. In order to deal with stress, one should pick up a hobby. Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. Group activities like team sports can improve your communication skills and relationships with others. Besides, we should also talk to someone trustworthy. Studies have proven that talking and expressing your feelings can be the best therapy of all to prevent stress.

By practicing self-care, we can also learn how to deal with our mental health issues. By taking care of ourselves, we are providing adequate attention to our own psychological and emotional well-being. There are many ways to practice self-care. We can do it by practicing healthy eating habits, practicing healthy sleeping habits, and exercising. We can help declutter our minds and reduce our stress levels by practicing those in our daily routine.

Our environment can influence our mood, behavior, and motivation to act. Therefore, we should try our very best to surround ourselves with optimistic people; people who radiate positive energy. Since we are spending most of our time digitally during this pandemic, we should make sure that our online pals and friends don’t influence us or our mental health negatively. Social media has its potential pitfalls. Social media can not only affect our physical health but our mental health too. Therefore, we should be aware of everything and everyone around us, even in reality. Social media increases the opportunity for harmful interactions. Social media might affect our self-esteem, sleep, memory, attention span which contribute to unstable mental health. Everyone is vulnerable when it comes to social media. Social media cleanse is one of the perfect solutions to overcome this problem. What Is A Social Media Cleanse? As the name suggests, a social media cleanse involves distancing yourself from any and every social media platform or also known as “taking a break” whether it's a 24-hour hiatus or completely deleting your accounts. You can read a book instead or do something else to unwind. There are many ways to decompress after high stress.

Socializing with the community nearby can also improve our mental health. Yes, we can’t go out of our houses to meet our neighbours and friends. But thanks to the internet. Now, we can interact will our community nearby through social platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord. We should take this opportunity to learn more about our community. By learning about the community, we would be aware of everything that is happening around us, and we can avoid unnecessary anxiousness. Therefore, we can ensure the safety of ourselves and our families. Besides, we will have someone to talk to when we need any help sorting through our complex feelings.

The Internet can be a nasty, dangerous place for anyone. We should not succumb to it. Much fake information is being shared on the internet to be viewed by users. Fabricated information can cause unnecessary panic. This could definitely affect our mental health. Therefore, we should make sure that we get our information from trusted, legitimate sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), The STAR websites. Websites such as WHO and The STAR are authorized by the government, thus the information and news from those websites are reviewed before being published to be viewed by the users.

Protecting ourselves is a vital move when it comes to managing our mental health. People around us, society might negatively influence us, judge us, and underestimate us. We should never let that get to our heads, instead, we have to push past it and stop ruminating. Certain things can damage us and ruin our mental health. These can lead to severe, life-threatening actions to be committed because of the dissatisfaction. For instance, one that is not happy with his/her life, one that thinks that he/she has no choice will have suicidal thoughts and will come up to the conclusion that death is the only solution to the problems faced. If they are experiencing changes in personality, routine, or sleep patterns, depression, panic attacks, or impaired concentration, they should seek immediate help before it is too late.

Let’s talk about helping people. Yes, you come first. But, refrain from being selfish. Try to give as much as you can during the pandemic. You might not be the only one facing problems or having troubles with your mental health. Be supportive of others and try to help them as much as possible. Assisting others in their time of need can benefit the person receiving support as well as the helper. This ensures a safe community. There are many simple ways to help people around you. For instance, a simple check in on your neighbours or anyone in your community might help them feel better and secured. Besides, working together as one community can help to create solidarity in addressing Covid-19 together. Your action might save someone; someone’s life, perhaps. A simple text or a call would suffice when it comes to helping people around you. Don’t neglect and ignore the people around you. Look out for them instead. They would be grateful for your help.

It is undeniable that cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs affect our health physically. Some people are tempted to use drugs or alcohol because they think they will make them feel better, but they can leave you feeling worse, anxious and agitated, or unmotivated and moody. Your sense of reality can be affected too. Most smokers say they want to stop, but some continue because smoking seems to relieve stress and anxiety. It's a common belief that smoking helps you relax. But smoking increases anxiety and tension. It is also more likely for smokers to develop depression over time than non-smokers. The same goes for drug addicts and alcoholics. Drugs and alcohol are known to lower the levels of serotonin in the brain to cause changes to an individual's mood. Excessive drinking causes increases in anxiety, stress, and depression. Avoiding these habits may have a beneficial effect on one’s mental health.

In a nutshell, there are many ways to improve our mental health during this pandemic.

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close.