“Everyone is going through something we can’t see.” - Kevin Love
October 10th was Mental Health day—and the topic of mental health has never been more important. While the world is still grappling with COVID-19, the negative byproduct of the lockdown and uncertainty has exacerbated another pandemic that has plagued the world with an invisible eye—that of loneliness.
Global research has shown the negative impacts of the lockdown with increases in mental health difficulties and loneliness (especially in young people). Humans were not born to stay caged up at home, so what can we do?
Awareness is a key first step. Have empathy for those we live with and those we work with—we are still living in the midst of an unprecedented, global pandemic. Be kind. Always be kind and understanding.
Stay (deeply) connected. Zoom fatigue is real, but it’s the only thing we have to stay connected. Imagine staying locked in during a global pandemic in a pre-internet and pre-social media era…how lonely would that feel like? Don’t just check in but try having deeper conversations with friends and family. What is the silver lining from COVID-19? What have you learned? Switch it up…play some collaborative games together.
There’s a plethora of things you could do, but the most important thing we can do is to remind ourselves that it’s OK to feel this way…whatever way we are feeling. And that others are also going through something. We are humans after all. Be kind Always be kind.