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Five steps to support emotional and mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
In the midst of the pressure and uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak, NABS offers advice as to how to better support people across the industry.
Nicola Kemp
Editorial Director CreativebriefCoronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and with social media fuelling catastrophising in real time, prioritising our collective mental health and being more mindful of our media consumption habits is vital.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a series of recommendations which include limiting the times that people read the news. While it may feel counterintuitive to limit news intake in the midst of a global crisis, the reality is reading news on a loop, or dead-scrolling social media feeds does not equate to being more informed on the outbreak
In line with this, the WHO recommends seeking information updates at specific times. In the midst of a deluge of information, relying on sites such as BBC News and the NHS website is sensible.
Now is also a great time to streamline your information sources, social media feeds and news bulletins. While WhatsApp groups are a vital way of keeping informed, parents might want to consider temporarily muting any class chat groups that have gone into panic mode. In their place focusing on the practical steps you can take, whether shopping for elderly neighbours or taking the time to check in one-on-one with a colleague and actively listening after asking, “Are you OK?”
It’s down to all of us across the industry to offer support and empathy where we can.
Annabel McCaffrey
We all need advice in these challenging times. Coronavirus and its implications could cause distress, anxiety and emotional health problems to people working across adland, according to NABS, the support organisation for the advertising and media industry.
That’s why NABS’ experts are now issuing guidance for employees and employers working, to help them through what could be months of disruption as the UK attempts to fight off the virus.
Annabel McCaffrey, Head of Support at NABS, says, “Coronavirus and its implications are understandably causing a huge amount of worry already across industry. It’s down to all of us across the industry to offer support and empathy where we can, and we hope that the guidelines we’ve created will help us all to help each other.”
NABS suggests these five steps to help support wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak:
Communication is key. Keep talking to your managers, employees and colleagues to establish how you can work together and support each other throughout the pandemic. If you feel able to do so, share when you’re feeling anxious or unwell and let others know how they can best help you.
Take extra steps to manage your anxiety, if this is already a problem for you. If you suffer from anxiety, especially health anxiety, coronavirus may well tap into this. Find somebody to talk to, whether that’s a mental health ally at work or a member of NABS’ free Advice Line. You might also consider taking up therapy, such as CBT, to help manage your thoughts.
Recognise that your worries, though troubling, are thoughts and not facts. You may be worried about having to exist on sick pay, should you contract the virus, or even about losing your job if coronavirus causes a recession. It’s important to recognise that these worries, though troubling and understandable, aren’t real. Talking through your worries can help. What’s more if the worst happens, NABS will be here with you: we offer free career coaching for jobseekers and support grants for eligible applicants who need financial assistance.
Ward off loneliness with tech. If you end up being quarantined, or even working from home for a long period of time, you might feel isolated and lonely. If you feel well enough, reach out to friends and colleagues; even a five-minute WhatsApp chat or FaceTime can help to make you feel more connected to the outside world. The NABS Advice Line is also always here for you for a friendly chat.
Follow the official advice. Coronavirus is frightening for many reasons, especially because it’s out of our control. However, we can help to protect ourselves as much as we can by following the government guidelines and also those set out by your employer. This helps to prevent additional worry that we might have done the wrong thing and put ourselves at extra risk.
NABS is here for you. You can call or email the Advice Line for a friendly, impartial chat as many times as you like on 0800 707 6607 or email [email protected]
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