Coronavirus / Charity offers guidance for anyone struggling to cope during virus outbreak
LOCAL mental health charity Mind Your Head has launched a new webpage for people feeling anxious or stressed about coronavirus.
Like most places in the UK and beyond, the pandemic has dominated discussion in the last week and a half in Shetland.
For some the ins and outs of the virus itself is overwhelming, but add onto that round-the-clock social media and news coverage and the impact on employment and childcare, and the situation can be hard for many.
That does not even take into account potentially having to go into self-isolation or socially distancing yourself from family and friends.
Mind Your Head has collated a number of links and pieces of advice on how to cope during the outbreak.
Wellness practitioner and marketing officer Charity Johnson said while the charity has suspended face-to-face contact during the outbreak, people can still get in touch on the phone or through email.
“We have most definitely seen more referrals come in through emails,” she said in relation to demand on the charity in the last week and a half.
“We have also seen more enquiries and questions through social media.”
Johnson said in terms of the overpowering amount of discussion and content online about coronavirus, there are “two sides to social media”.
“We are really trying our best during this time to make sure that everybody is getting the information that they need,” she said.
Since the coronavirus page launched on the Mind Your Head Website it has attracted the most views apart from the home page.
Johnson said one particular challenge for people, meanwhile, can be the feeling of things “closing down” if they are someone who is reliant on being active.
Mind Your Head’s coronavirus page acknowledged that it is a “scary time for many of us”.
“It’s far too easy to get caught up with all the information going around through the media or from people we know. However, there are a lot of simple things that you can do to help keep yourself well,” it added.
“Mind Your Head are here to help, and although we are unable to offer face-to-face support at the moment, we’ve compiled a list of resources that we think contribute to your wellbeing during these uncertain times.”
Johnson said that the charity will continue to work to its mission of promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in Shetland, even if its office at Market House is closed.
“We are still able to speak to people, we are still able to offer guidance,” she said.
“Help will always be here.”
Visit Mind Your Head’s coronavirus page, which will be updated regularly, here.
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