Wie fühlst du dich heute?

"Everything can be taken from us but one thing: the freedom to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances." Viktor Frankl


How are you feeling today? Has anyone taken the time to ask you that? For me, my emotions are all over the place. One minute I feel fine the next am almost having a panic attack. The reason is this COVID-19 pandemic. It seems to keep on evolving despite the measures put in place. In the past week, this was worsened by several discussions with different groups of people, visualizing relentless despondent news and consistent assessment, and reassessment of our healthcare policies and systems. These aspects have been creating a very melancholic atmosphere. It makes one almost wish to curse out but then again life has to move on. So how are you coping? Would you wish to share? If yes email me or comment below.

There has never been such a crucial time to maintain our mental wellness in this century such as now. Studies have consistently displayed a direct relationship between our mental health as healthcare professionals and our ability to provide care to patients. As it is now we have already started noticing an increase in numbers of sickly patients whom soon as a continent we shall be aggressively competing for the limited resources.  Within healthcare, researchers have already started noticing an exponential increase in burnout levels among healthcare professionals and increased anxiety levels among patients. To read more on this https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540859/ and https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2020/02/23/2020.02.20.20025338.full.pdf.

For healthcare professionals, this has been attributed to;

• Longer working hours 
• Ethical dilemmas
• Insufficient protective gear
• Increased mortality rates
• Increased infection rates among themselves
• Poor organizational planning etc

Occupational health specialists are already establishing that health care organizations will soon have to deal with greater numbers of employees dealing with anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorders, insomnia, suicide, and burnout The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic: consequences for occupational health.


With all this happening we therefore need to actively play a role in maintaining our own mental wellness. This is at a personal level and collaboratively at an organizational level. Upon discussions with several colleagues, acquaintances, and friends its sad to notice that most organizations have not yet put up additional measures to aid in the promotion and maintenance of mental wellness. Personel, therefore, have to formulate their own mechanisms. This is, however, proving to be insufficient for a large group of health professionals.

Organizations that are investing in their health professionals mental wellness are doing so by ;

1. Constantly relaying messages that reiterate the importance of health workers their value and that pandemic management together is the goal.
2. Clear communication of current practice.
3. Managing expectations.
4. Clarifying work hours.
5. Providing sufficient resources and adequate PPEs.
6. Regularly monitoring their wellness.
7. Proactively addressing concerns related to staff safety and that of their families.
8. Encouraging open discussions on vulnerability and importance to protect one's  mental strength
9. Provision of information on effective stress management.
10. Distributing messages of gratitude.
11. Providing basic provisions on the long shifts eg healthy snacks, water, toiletries.
12. Offering environments that foster spiritual resilience.
13. Offering online tele-counseling etc.

To read more on ways organizations can do this continue reading the articles below
http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/special/COM20043_HoCSH_2.pdf
https://annals.org/aim/fullarticle/2763592

On a personal level, I am actively utilizing a few minutes each day on self-care. Some of the activities am doing include;

1. Intentionally connecting with friends/colleagues

Social distancing should not limit our human interactions. I am using my daily resources to maintain the needed human contact. Despite using features such as Zoom, Google Duo and Skype for meetings.I am finding such forums useful for holding online discussions on how one is coping. By propagating positive messages it provides some kind of mental relief. Also, these same forums are also proving to be very useful for catharsis.

2. Regularly going through websites that promote mental wellness

From my previous blog posts, I have indicated that I regularly follow the action to happiness website. They aim at always providing activities that help one maintain a positive outlook. For this month of April their activity calender is titled active coping If you wish to access it plus other more great resources click the following link.https://www.actionforhappiness.org.

3. Indulging in indoors activities I love

I have been listening to a lot of music hence dancing more which generates a lot of endorphins providing much-needed relief. I am also trying to re-learn how to play online games such as Blur am staying away from the violent ones. It had been so long since, that I seem to have become quite rusty at it but am gradually improving. I am also cooking more and finding it to be quite therapeutic.

4. Praying more

My belief in a higher power is providing an avenue to direct my concerns. I have found it very calming especially anytime I have experienced a highly stressful situation that I cant phanthom initiating a discussion on.

5. Reading more

As usual, I am reading as many books as I can. They are providing practical solutions to so many mental blocks I have been encountering. The most recent read that I recommend is Joyce Meyer's book titled Living beyond your feelings: controlling emotions so that they don't control you.


In conclusion, as we continue giving our best to try fight this pandemic let us always remember  that