Most of us understand the negatives of the pandemic, but are there any positives to be had? Perhaps the dreaded C-word has taken on a new meaning, spawning a whole new age of Community spirit, driven by a fundamental need to Communicate and Collaborate with one another and an underlying urge to do whatever we can to alleviate suffering for others.
Luckily for many, they have been able to adapt to a “new normal” whilst working from home thanks to the meteoric rise in the popularity and accessibility of video communication tools. But despite this technological quenching of our thirsty socialising personalities, there are hidden darker undercurrents.
Mental Health Awareness Week (18th – 24th May) highlights some of these with reports that depression and anxiety are among the biggest causes of deaths in the UK, especially in the twenty to thirty somethings bracket. Unfortunately, these are quite prevalent conditions in normal times but add in the extra stress caused by the virus crisis and things quickly become more worrying.
This year’s MHAW theme is kindness, based on research that shows simple acts of kindness can have an immediate, positive improvement on emotional wellbeing. And the good news is it works both ways, whether you are receiving or giving. Kindness is the key that unlocks our humanity, helping to bring us together for the benefit of everyone, especially our mental wellbeing in these particularly stressful times.
Taking part in communal activities can be a sure fire route to positive mental wellbeing as many of our teams discovered when they took part in our Saville Group Virtual Runabout in support of the amazing work the NHS and frontline workers have been doing, boosting morale and wellbeing.
From cycling, running and spacehopping, to mass pass the mug video calls, the sense of community and kindness these activities created has definitely helped defeat the negative aspects of COVID-19 in our delicate minds.
Find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week.