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When we emerge from COVID-19 , will the anxiety and fear that has permeated society continue ? Will we ever shake hands again ?
As humans we are generally very resilient and have remarkable ability to adapt . When we emerge from COVID-19 , there will no doubt be some reluctance initially , but with time , we will resume our pre‐COVID social behaviours — with some adaptations ; just how quickly we do so will depend on how this pandemic evolves .
And , when our social behaviours return to a new normal , the mental health effects of the pandemic may take much longer to resolve and may progress to mental disorders in many .
One thing that I think will change long-term is the way people connect with their care providers . We ’ re going to see an increase in virtual health care in all areas of medicine , and more so in mental health , long after we emerge from COVID-19 .
What will be the long-term psychological effects of public health measures on children ?
Children are incredibly resilient and their brains have much more plasticity than those of adults — meaning they ’ re able to readily change and adapt to different experiences .
Unless this pandemic continues for a much longer period , it ’ s unlikely we ’ re going to see longer-term impacts on the social development of our children .
As society adapts to the new normal , what are your top three tips for overcoming anxiety ?
1 . Continue to take steps to reduce your likelihood of contracting the virus : wear a face mask , wash your hands frequently , don ’ t touch your face , avoid large gatherings and parties , and practise physical distancing .
2 . Protect your mental health and build resilience by maintaining your regular routines , exercising often , and connecting with your social networks , while maintaining physical distance . Social connection is more important than ever before .
3 . Reduce your consumption of COVID-19 news . It ’ s important to stay informed , but limit your time to avoid becoming overwhelmed . Distract yourself with things that bring you joy .
Dr . Lakshmi Yatham shares some of the unique challenges currently facing healthcare providers and reveals how he and his UBC colleagues are stepping up to support the mental health needs of front-line doctors during the outbreak — and beyond .
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12 UBC FACULTY OF MEDICINE : PATHWAYS