Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | 2 a.m.
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As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, anxiety over the disease may be growing too. That’s certainly understandable, as COVID-19’s side effects on a number of fronts — the economy, public gatherings, workplaces, etc. — mean it’s affecting more and more people even if their main concern about the virus isn’t becoming infected by it.
That being the case, it’s important to remember that mental health resources are available for anyone struggling with unsettling feelings about the outbreak.
Health officials at the national level and here in Nevada are working to ensure that anyone who needs help dealing with mental aspects of the disease can get it.
For anyone who’s either experiencing anxiety personally or knows someone who is, a good starting place is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s resource page: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html
The site offers advice for health providers, individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions, those for whom the outbreak has caused an onset of anxiety, and for parents whose children may be struggling.
Tips from the CDC and from other psychology experts include:
• If feeling overwhelmed by news of the situation, take breaks from media coverage and instead engage in activities that provide relaxation — listening to music, reading a novel, gardening, etc.
• Listen carefully to your own body, and contact your health care provider if fears or worries over the outbreak cause you to experience changes for several days in sleep or eating patterns, disruption in concentration, a worsening of a chronic health problem, increased use of alcohol or drugs, etc.
• Practice good self-care by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Also, help prevent the spread of the disease by thoroughly washing your hands on a regular basis, staying home when you are ill, and covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue and then throwing the tissue away.
• Access and share reliable information from trusted sources, such as the CDC, the World Health Organization and credible news sources.
• Connect with others by talking out concerns with family members and friends.
• For parents, let children know it’s OK if they feel upset, and encourage them to share their concerns with you. Take time to answer their questions using facts from credible sources.
Finally, it’s critical to remember that anxiety can’t always be overcome through self-support methods like those mentioned here. Health professionals advise Southern Nevadans who need mental health services to contact their health providers or, for urgent care, either visit an emergency room or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration disaster distress hotline at 1-800-985-5990.
No doubt, COVID-19 is affecting a growing number of people in the Las Vegas Valley in a growing number of places — in shopping outlets where supplies of hand sanitizer and bottled water have been sold out, in offices where employees have been advised to work from home, even in houses of worship where ritual practices that involve hand-holding or other physical contact are being limited or curtailed.
It can all be worrisome. But thanks to the availability of good information and services, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
