Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health

Kirstie Brewer from BBC News has written an informative article - Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health

In summary:
Limit yourself to news and social media if these are potential triggers for you

Follow published advice to reduce the risk of infection

If you do need to self-isolate stay connected with people; family, friends, neighbours via telephone or video calling

If you feel your mental health is slipping:

• If you have a plan (WRAP – Wellness Recovery Action Plan) – initiate it
• Talk to someone about your feelings
• Family and friends
• Lincolnshire new mental health helpline 0800 001 4331
• Samaritans Call: 116 123
• SANEline (open between 6pm and 11pm) Call: 0300 304 7000
• CALM - Campaign against living miserably Call: 0800 52 52 52 from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year

Avoid burnout - With weeks and months of the coronavirus pandemic ahead, it is important to have down time. Mind recommends continuing to access nature and sunlight wherever possible. Do exercise, eat well and stay hydrated.

AnxietyUK suggests practising the "Apple" technique to deal with anxiety and worries.

• Acknowledge: Notice and acknowledge the uncertainty as it comes to mind.
• Pause: Don't react as you normally do. Don't react at all. Pause and breathe.
• Pull back: Tell yourself this is just the worry talking, and this apparent need for certainty is not helpful and not necessary. It is only a thought or feeling. Don't believe everything you think. Thoughts are not statements or facts.
• Let go: Let go of the thought or feeling. It will pass. You don't have to respond to them. You might imagine them floating away in a bubble or cloud.
• Explore: Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, all is well. Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing. Notice the ground beneath you. Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell. Right now. Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the worry, or do something else - mindfully with your full attention.