Managing Mental Health and Covid-19

Unprecedented. You may have seen this word in headlines, media articles, sermons, social media outlets, celebrity IG captions, emails from professors and more. Perhaps you have even used it yourself to describe the current state of events and what we are going through as individuals, as a school, and as a nation. While COVID-19 is an unprecedented and unstudied virus, radically changing the way we live, managing mental health in the midst of hardship and challenges is not; for some of us, we do it every day.

Fortunately, we have years of research and proven tools for mental health that can assist us now when the stories and the news of how to manage the virus change daily, even hourly. It is true that we cannot answer every question or prepare entirely for the list of unknowns; however, below are some suggestions to begin (or encourage you as you continue!) to manage mental health:

• Control the controllable: focus on what you can control, such as your daily routine, having adequate food and supplies, staying healthy with nutrition and exercise and even turning in assignments on time.
   
• Reach out: tell a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling, or identify a local health professional that could offer support through the summer as some questions may be answered, while others go unanswered or increase.
   
• Get creative: cook something new, write a song, paint a new landscape, or create a new game to play with friends on FaceTime!
   
• Stay mindful: practicing grounding techniques like deep breathing during your walk around the neighborhood, or trying mindfulness to stay present as you wash the family dog or do the dishes after dinner.  Notice how you feel and acknowledge the feelings without criticizing or judging your thoughts. 

Unprecedented. A time for flexibility, creativity and openness to adapt to changes as we navigate a new “normal,” and notice the many ways we can continue to support one another and our own mental health journey. You are living through an unprecedented time of history as a generation of college students, but you are also more resilient and resourceful than you may have realized; now is the time to utilize those skills with compassion and empathy for others and for yourself. 

Writer:  K. von Kampen, M.A., PLMHP