The Disaster Management Committee of Shillong College today organized a webinar on ‘Disaster psycho-social care: people’s attitude and mental health status in coping with the pandemic’.
Dr. Tiewri L. Nonglait in her inaugural address emphasized that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have severely affected people across various age groups where people have been experiencing problems like fear, acute post traumatic stress, insomnia and different psychological imbalances.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is described as humanity’s worst crisis since World War II. The measures taken by the government to contain the disease also has had an adverse impact not only on the vulnerable populations but also on our young adults where social distancing, lockdowns, quarantine have caused unprecedented mental stress.
The resource person, Dr. Didakamiwan Khonglah highlighted the fact that the COVID-19 has impacted differently for those who are confirmed cases, those with existing mental health problems and the general population.
She said those with existing mental health problems have reported the recurrence or deterioration of mental disorders while the general population too was affected as many have displayed anxieties, lack of sleep, fear over studies, uncertainties of work and future due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Khonglah laid emphasis on the importance of having a strong resilience against the mental pressures and adopt measures to improve the mental health conditions like strengthening of social supports, to be kind to oneself, taking time for oneself, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, follow sleep hygiene, avoid taking substances like tobacco, avoid unhealthy foods, alcohols etc., making oneself occupied with things that brings joy such as reading, gardening etc., avoid cyberchondria and paying attention only to news from reliable sources.
She also urged people to seek professional help at a proper time and those who are undergoing treatment must stay in touch with their healthcare providers.
Dr Khonglah further reminded that not everything is traumatic about the pandemic. She said people in these tough times have build a strong community that helps each other, the environment has become more greener and alive and elderly have defeated the virus.
It is important to remember that beyond post traumatic stress there is a post traumatic growth, she added.
