Carla
Menezes de Alvares, lights designer and
mother to two daughters, recently posted a picture on social media, of them
enjoying a
‘beach
day’ in the confines of their home. A Covid -19 lockdown was not going to stop
them from imagining a fun day at the beach, albeit with water in a tub, a
little procured sand but not without a picnic basket, swimsuits and a chilled
drink to complete the fantasy.
Shares
Carla, “My kids are so used to being outdoors, it’s been difficult to entertain
them at this time when they can’t even go to the colony
park
and being in an apartment can get restrictive.” She delightfully adds, “I had
to think of some ideas to entertain them and keep us in a mentally happy space.
We conjured up a ‘DIY restaurant’ or a ‘beach day’ or even a ‘park day’ – all
at home!”
Her
innovative approach in altering her sense of reality, even if for her kids, is
perhaps what we all need to indulge in to keep us sane in these tough times.
Anxiety
has been on an all time high and not without reason, with the novel Coronavirus
mandating us all to keep washing our hands and
maintain
physical distance. Dr. Peter Castelino, Managing Trustee of Cooj Mental Health Foundation
avers, “Mass anxiety at this time is
normal
when one has to adhere to precautions and yet have to come in contact with
people. We are in fact asked to be obsessive and in fact those who suffer from
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may find their symptoms increasing.”
Trying
not to let physical distancing get in the way of connecting with patients, Dr.
Castelino says, “My patients connect with me on Whatsapp.
Besides,
the government has permitted us to practice telemedicine which means that
online prescriptions will be honoured at pharmacies.”
Cooj
has also created a dedicated Cooj Distress Helpline number (0832-2252525), open
from Monday to Friday from 1-7p.m for those seeking
help
and are emotionally affected by the current situation. Dr. Castelino
hearteningly adds, “The Government of Goa along with the Psychiatry
Society
of Goa will soon be creating a website. Many psychiatrists have volunteered to
be available to patients free of charge and the details
are
being worked out. Emotional support is essential at this time.”
Mental
healthcare professionals especially those working with special needs children
have tried to do their best in this challenging situation.
Dr.
Nandita DeSouza of SETHU has still been keeping up with appointments over the
telephone. Says Dr. DeSouza, “While I may not be able to
make
a complete diagnosis, I am talking to those who have been reaching out to us.
During this time, I am also trying to ascertain and understand new cases who
have called us from other states, even if we can’t meet them right now.” For
children on the autism spectrum, this situation poses a unique problem in even
comprehending the situation, depending on the severity.
She
shares, “We have visual resources explaining to them about the Corona virus and
why they can’t go out. We also have a WhatsApp
group
that gets parents to talk and share their experiences and ideas on what they
can do to establish a routine and also share pictures to stay
connected
and motivated.”
While
children may seem anxious, as Dr. DeSouza rightly suggests, it’s more the
adults that seem to be affected. “Most of the anxiety
with
children stems from a lack of structure and knowing their day in advance which
helps to calm them. A visual structure and routine helps all
children
and those with special needs even more so. If they can’t go out, taking them to
a terrace or a garden space around a stand alone home,
can
work well. Children are more in the ‘here and now’, it’s the adults who over
think.”
Children
can also be taught skills like household work and The Owl House – the centre for
autistic children in Aldona has done exactly that by sharing videos on common
household chores like folding clothes and how parents can initiate the same at
home. “Families can bring
structure
to their children’s life through creativity. This is great bonding time for
children with their parents. While our teachers try to reach out to them
virtually, it often is tough given that not all the kids have access to
internet connections and smart phones,” adds Pria Sule. The Owl House helpline
+917264938800 offers advice and resources for dealing with challenging behavior
at home, emotional support for caregivers and support on food and medication.
Accepting
the situation seems half the battle won, though. As Dr. Castelino advises, “Stop
reading all those WhatsApp forwards’ We don’t
need
that much information. It’s important to focus on what you can do rather than
try and control what you can’t. Structure your day and add
elements
that help you relax. Follow an exercise regimen. This is a great time to
revisit hobbies like gardening or painting and stay connected to
people
through apps. Thankfully technology has made it possible for us to be connected
despite the physical lockdown.” Dr. Nandita agrees when she says, “For once, we
all have down time with no deadlines to keep, it is up to us to use it
positively.”
Showing
credence to the UK based research study that noted that older people seem more resilient
to stress during Coronavirus, Richard
Nunes
and Betsy Pinto, a cheerful octogenarian couple who live alone in Moira insist
that the lockdown has isolated them but definitely not
disconnected
them from the world. Says Richard, “I’ve been used to reading and keeping
myself connected over the internet. I can imagine it being difficult for those
who don’t use the computer. Also, the newspaper delivery being stopped in some
places can add to the distress especially for elderly folks who are used to
this habit.” He cheerfully adds, “We get by though thanks to good neighbours,
who are always helpful.”
But
while it may seem the perfect down time for most, Vasumathi Prabhu, a
practicing psychotherapist cautions, “Right now survival is
important
so mental health care seems to have taken a backseat with most of my Indian
clients. While this is a good time to introspect, build bonds and for self
care, this uncertainty may take a toll on us if it extends beyond a month.”
With
partners and children potentially trapped at home in bad situations, experts
also worry that there could be more abuse and that the
issues
people face in bad relationships could get even worse. It is encouraging then
to note that a citizens led group, The Goa Humanitarian Helpline is extending
emotional support in these times and have rallied together mental health
practitioners and grief counsellors for emotional support. Vijaya Josephine
Pais, a member of the team informs “We are in the process of working out the
details with specialists and we will soon have a number to share. Right now
although the Covid – 19 Humanitarian helpline number 080-4719-2600 is used for
SOS calls on delivery of supplies etc, we have people who can help with handling
calls for emotional support,” The pandemic may have created a helpless situation
but
we can take control of our lives and choose to deal with it with the right
attitude knowing that we can reach out for support.
