Managing mental health with COVID-19 anxiety

The increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has lead to a fear dubbed by some as “coronavirus anxiety”, with psychologists offering advice on how to manage this stress. The Nudge Group psychologist Justin Harrison said it was OK to be anxious but it was important to keep the situation in perspective. He associated the public’s anxiety with availability bias, a human tendency to think the more present something was in someone’s mind the more likely it was to happen, and recommended people did not become consumed by constantly checking the news for updates about COVID-19. “Be disciplined, check the news twice a day but then read a book,” he said. Self-isolation or social distancing could be a lonely process so Mr Harrison encouraged those at home to maintain a routine and connect with people in other ways. “If you have to go into quarantine, this is probably the best time in human history to do it because we can use FaceTime, Zoom, Skype,” he said. Self-isolation could be lonely for people who were already vulnerable, like the older people for whom loneliness was already a problem, Mr Harrison noted. He encouraged younger people to help older people stay connected with technology where possible. The Global Centre for Modern Ageing agreed and said family and friends should offer older people support in using digital technologies during this time. Mr Harrison said it was important for people to remember they were doing something good during a time of crisis. “One of the things that really lifts people’s spirits is self-transcendence,” he said. Other tips by the Australian Psychological Society were learn the facts, take hygiene precautions, practice self-care and seek additional support when it’s needed.