Mental health practitioner issues message of hope

A MENTAL health practitioner who is helping people during the Covid-19 outbreak has urged people to remain positive and remember that ‘better days are coming.’

Castlederg native Rachel McHugh works daily to help those in isolation cope with their mental health difficulties during the covid-19 outbreak.

The well-being and mental health practitioner knows first hand the risk that Covid-19 presents as she has Cystic Fibrosis and is in the high risk category.

However, despite the risk to her own health, she is urging people to optimistic as ‘being optimistic may well be the thing that will get us through this.’

Speaking to the UlsterHerald, she said, “We must not be flippant and too relaxed because we need to be vigilant and careful.

“However, being optimistic may well be the thing that will help us through this. Whether we worry or not, the truth is it will not change the outcome. It will not stop us getting the virus.

“From the people I have been working with, the biggest problem is having to stay in the house. “People are really worried about their family members and those who are vulnerable but I think people are finding it difficult to stay at home all the time.”

The young woman, who has not been able to leave her home for the past four weeks, advises that people stay at home, wash your hands, look after vulnerable people and focus on the things we can do.

She says she has been inspired by the strength and positivity people have been showing.

“Now, that a real threat is here, people realise that there is nothing they can do.

“It is almost like the worst has happened and they are dealing with it.

“I think it is giving people strength and pushing them forward and it is great to see.”

Rachel is Physiological well-being practitioner with the Western Trust and has been doing phone sessions with eight to ten clients a week during the Covid-19 outbreak.

So while it is easy to focus on the doom and gloom of Covid-19, Rachel believes that better times are coming and we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.

“It is bad now, but it is not always going be this bad.

“We will come out of this and we want to be able to return to our normal lives so it is important to look after ourselves now because when things do open up again, it is important to be able to enjoy ourselves.

“This is bad situation, but I hope that we will grow with it and come out a bit more appreciative of the life we have.

“People are slowing down and realising what they have been taken for granted such as seeing their family members or have they been working too much.

“This has been a real eye opener – there is more to life than work.”

Top tips for coping with your mental health during Covid-19

–Avoid too much social media and an excessive amount of news. Avoid too much fact checking and false social media reports on Facebook. Stick to the facts but do not check religiously.

– Even though we cannot physically see our family, it is really important to keep in contact. So whether that is Facetime, a phonecall or Skype – it will help you but it also helps the rest of your family know that you are okay and gives reassurance.

– Routine is really important. People can be really productive and do all these things that you really want to do, which is brilliant but at the same time, if people do nothing, that is okay too.

– People are putting a lot of pressure on themselves but we are in the middle of a pandemic and nobody knows how to cope with it. Whatever way you are coping is fine.

– Set small goals. Get a diary and write out the things you want to do on that day and tick off the things you do. If you don’t do them all, that is fine – leave it for tomorrow or another day but it will give you the sense of still having things to do.

– Get fresh air – sit outside with a cup of tea or go for a short walk – even just for half an hour.