In current unprecedented time everyone froma politician to a lobbyist; from a businessman to a labour; from a healthprofessional to a patient is worried, confused and distressed. The developedcountries with so called advanced healthcare system have failed to provide anykind of medical relief. The world has come to a grinding halt and is groped ina crisis of economic fall down and loss of lives. A lot of negative thinking plus deliberate or undeliberate rumours,misinformation, fake news has created panic with a resultant chaos everywhere.In our case situation is even more aggravated when we lack any reliable andtrustworthy leadership, have makeshift administration and are lace with asystem that can’t even provide basic healthcare facilities. Does this mean thatworld has come to an end for us? The answer is big NO. We the residents of thesaints’ valley (pir vaer) and firm believers must realise that all power iswith Allah. Whatever is going to happen will be for good. All that is requiredis to be patient and follow the guidelines that are being prescribed time totime by world health authorities like WHO, CDC, ICMR, etc. Keeping in view thegrowing stress and chaos that has resulted from fake news, misinformation andrumours, WHO has formulated some of the mental health and psychosocialguidelines for the people of all fields and ages to remain protected and stressfree.
Guidelines for general population
Do not attribute disease to any particularethnicity or nationality: At this juncture, we must be empathetic to all thoseaffected with the crisis. Rather than attaching any particular identity to thedisease we must strive hard to do our bit in alleviating the spread of diseaseand its sufferings.
Do not stigmatise affected people: Affectedpatients must not be named as COVID-19- cases/ patients/ families. Thisinfection is like other coronavirus flu’s from which people mostly recover. Theaffected people after recovery will be part of society and work like before.
Restrict access to the news that makes youanxious, distressed and unnerved: It is extremely important to switch-on thereliable, genuine and useful news. Do not waste your time watching news all theday. Keep yourself busy with good, positive and stress buster literature.
Consider self-protection and protection ofothers: It is of utmost important that we follow the basic prescribedprinciples to prevent the disease spread. Besides, assistance to others in thishour of need will surely benefit both the needy and helper. “Together we windivided we fall”.
Communicate words of wisdom and amplifypositive stories. We must communicate stories that have positive impact onpeople’s lives like stories of recovered people.
Honouring carer and healthcare workers: Bethankful and patient to all those who care and keep our loved ones safe inthese times of crisis.
Message for healthcare workers
Under pressure but good at work: Ourhealthcare workers are our army against the COVID-19. You people are surely atstress but you have to be strong as God has bestowed you with the capacity tobear it.
Take care of yourself: Ensure copingstrategies like sufficient rest and respite during work or between shifts. Doregular physical exercises, eat sufficient and healthy food. Avoid harmfulhabits such as smoking, alcohol or drugs. Above all follow the tried and testedoptions which you know better than other lot.
Do not avoid family and do not let themfear you: Stay in contact with family and friends that will surely relieve yourburden and stress. Make sure families understand the situation and do not fearyou out of stigma.
Support affected ones and express your artto reach to a special-abled person: Express positivities and other relevantinformation through various means other than writing. This will surely helppeople with intellectual, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities. Peopleburdened with COVID-19 additionally suffer from psychosocial and mental healthissues. It is extremely important to support them and provide them stressbusters. Keeping them off the negative people, making them busy with someinteresting topics and encouraging them with good and positive stories willsurely help them.
Message for team leaders in healthcare system
Keep the staff off-the-chronic stress:Behave properly and encourage your staff. This will boost up their moral andmake them double their efforts in combating the situation.
Ensure quality administration andcommunicate accurate information: Rotate staff from high stress zones to thelower and vice versa. Inexperienced to be put with the experienced. Relaxedschedules for personnel affected by stressful event.
Psychological first aid guidance to staff:Orient the staff including nurses, ambulance drivers, volunteers, caseidentifiers, teachers and community leaders and workers in quarantine sites onhow to provide basic emotional and practical support to the affected ones andpeople surrounding them.
Ensure availability of psychotropicmedicine: People carrying long term mental health ailments like seizures needthese medications and must not be discontinued suddenly.
Message to child carers
Allow children to express feelings: Keepchild free to the extent that will help relieve them of the burden of stressand make them feel oriented. Do not over-burden them.
Keep children with parents/ loved ones:This makes them feel safe. If need arises to separate them, give them stressfree environment and keep them in tele-contact with the loved ones.
Maintain familiar routines: Do not disturbchildren routines and keep them busy with home-work including of the formaleducation to prevent any loss of time.
Message for older adults/ people with underlying health condition and their carers
Emotional support to ailing or old: Ailingor older ones that usually remain home bound are more anxious about the outsidesituation. Make them feel comfortable by providing them informal supportthrough families and formal support through health professionals.
Communicate instructions clearly,respectfully and patiently: Provide necessary information in a simple way.Avoid any stressing and shocking information. Be patient towards them and makethem feel comfortable.
Practice daily routine and ensure resourceavailability: Older patients or ailed ones must follow their routine exercisesand daily routine to prevent any adverse effect of stress. Keep them lace withall other busy keeping options.
Message for people in isolation:
Stay connected but maintain socialdistance: Do not feel aloof, be positive and keep socially connected. Avoidcontact with others but stay connected telephonically or through socialnetworks and /or video conferencing.
Avoid stress and focus on healthyactivities: Do not let stress overburden you. Exercise regularly, eat healthyfood and keep regular sleep routines. Public health agencies and experts in allcountries are working on the outbreak to ensure the availability of the bestcare to those affected.
Do not listen to naive news channels: Avoidlistening news channels that make news for the sake of TRP. Listen and learnfrom authorities like WHO and other relevant healthcare agencies.
All these steps are easy to follow and areunder our control. It’s must that we follow the guidelines to safeguardourselves and those around us.
Dr Mudasir Bashir is Assistant Professor FVSc & AH, SKUAST-Kashmir