My previous post was about the positive changes COVID-19 had on some stigma’s. But I still feel like there are some stigma’s left untouched and I think it’s important to talk about them.
Mental health
As someone with existing mental issues I know first hand how difficult it is to battle mental health even without a pandemic. Mental health includes our psychological, emotional and social well-being. Mental health affects how we feel, think and act. For me, once I get into a negative spiral, I keep spiralling and it is hard to get out. What helps for me are social contacts and long walks, but because of the pandemic that is getting much more difficult. Usually when things get tough I reach out to professionals for help, but unfortunately due to the pandemic visits to professional mental health facilitators have either been cut short but some have been canceled. This means that people are denied care they need.
Unfortunately, this means that suicide rates have gone up. Not just in a few countries but in countries all over the world. Mental health is something lots of people struggle with but there is still a stigma surrounding the topic.
Last week was mental health awareness week, and luckily I’ve seen more post on social media regarding this topic this year than the previous three years together. So there is progress! But we still have to do better. Waiting lists to see a therapist are ridiculously long, last time I wanted sought out help it took them 2 months before I had an appointment and I had a priority application. We have to do better, people who seek help should be treated fast. Governments did not take into account the severity of this issue when initiating the lockdown, so now is the time to change!
Abuse
Another stigma often not talked about is abuse. Yes even in 2020 this is happening. And the fact that I have to say that proves that it is a problem. In my opinion governments have failed to help people in abusive homes during the lockdown. Governments thought of ways for abusees to contact helplines, but they did not comprehend the fact that people can not call for help if the person they are afraid of is in the room with them. In the United States for example the domestic-violence hotlines had a decrease in calls by more than 50%. People felt unsafe to reach out for help.
With another lockdown may be happening soon, governments should really think about how to help abuse victims. But we also can help victims, how?
– Keep in touch regularly with this person, check if they are safe. Assume the abuser monitors communications, so be sure to find the safest form of communication.
– Find out which services for survivors of violence against women are operating during the pandemic and try to discreetly give this information to the victim.
– If the victim needs urgent help, be prepared to call emergency health services.
Many more
For the purpose of keeping this blog readable I only wrote about mental health and abuse, but unfortunately there are many more negative effects of COVID-19. So please keep informed on current events and keep the conversation going. We have to do better!
