Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

Mental Health

COVID-19 brings new focus to Mental Health Week

May 6, 2020 | 5:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — A focus on mental health is more important than ever as people struggle with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During Mental Health Week (May 4-10), people are being encouraged to find ways to stay mentally well, whether that’s by going outside, exercising, or connecting with friends and family through technology.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has been concerned about people who have seen their lives altered by losing jobs and becoming isolated.

“I think for folks who do live with a mental health or a substance use problem, the physical distancing and social isolation is something we’ve been very worried about and we’ve been responding to locally and provincially,” said CEO of the BC Division of the CMHA Jonny Morris.

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For some, the uncertainty of the COVID-19 produces feelings of anxiety.

“Often people don’t know how to respond, how to deal with that,” said Christa Haywood-Farmer, manager of community and vocational integration for the CMHA in Kamloops, “so anything from, ‘I have to work at home, or my kids aren’t going to school, how do I respond?’ We get lots of different calls around responding to anxiety.”

More people are accessing services in general.

“I think a lot more people are reaching out, if that makes sense,” Haywood-Farmer said. “So, they’re acknowledging that they’re just not feeling right and they don’t know what to do, so they look for support.”

Mary Widmer is the owner and executive director of C&C Resources for Life.

She says keeping up a daily routine is important for one’s mental health.

“I get up and I get dressed in the morning,” she said. “I don’t stay in my lounging pajamas all day, I try and create activities that I need to accomplish and some kind of a schedule that is normal for me, and this is what I encourage people to do as well.”

Counsellors are no longer able to meet with their patients face to face, with many moving to virtual meetings.

“We have to be much more sensitive and also asking, ‘What are you experiencing right now? What are you noticing?’ And be more aware of what they’re telling us, but they can’t always tell us, because they’re not always in touch with what they feel,” Widmer said.

During Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association is encouraging people to check in with one another.

“Think about the colleague they haven’t seen for a while,” Morris said, “or think about their neighbour or family member or another member of the community that they might be concerned about and be proactive with the technology that we have at our disposal.”

Information on various counselling programs are available on the CMHA website.