Coping with mental health issues and loneliness during Covid-19

“Lockdown made it impossible for me to use all my normal coping mechanisms. I had to figure out new ways of managing and talking myself down or out of a panic attack.”

For East London local Rochelle Croucamp, the news of South Africa moving to level 2 of the lockdown brought a sigh of relief.

The teacher, who used to rely on her normal routine of nature walks and trail runs to look after her mental health, had to find new ways over the past five months to manage.

Being forced into isolation, living with uncertainty about the future and under various restrictions is enough to make anyone feel a little weary and defeated, but for Croucamp, who suffers from depression and anxiety, the lockdown has been exhausting and emotionally taxing in many ways.

Croucamp said she had ways, through therapy, medication and self-care to manage her depression and anxiety under normal circumstances, but the pandemic and lockdown had affected her mental health negatively.

My depression is manageable, but after the first few weeks of lockdown I started feeling really down. The extension of the lockdown and uncertainty is what got to me most

“My depression is manageable, but after the first few weeks of lockdown I started feeling really down. The extension of the lockdown and uncertainty is what got to me most, so I ended up starting therapy again which really helped,” Croucamp, 25, said.

“I have situational depression, so the biggest thing was that my usual routine was gone and I had to adjust.

“Teaching is my passion, and not being able to go to work each day, see my children and do what I love was really tough.

“I also worried about losing my job, because schools were closed for so long and parents questioned why they had to continue paying school fees. If I couldn’t be a teacher I don’t know what I’d do.

“I’m an over-thinker and a planner, as many people with anxiety are. All the uncertainty about the future and the prolonged lockdown with what seemed like no end in sight, wasn’t good for me,” Croucamp said.

She said initially the fear of the virus also triggered her social anxiety. “At the beginning it was really difficult. I had really bad social anxiety when I’d go to the shops for groceries. I had a fear of people coming too close to me and people not obeying the rules.”

Croucamp said having a roommate and not being alone during the lockdown had helped her get through.

“Before lockdown I finally realised that I had to stop being stubborn and listen to what my body and soul were saying, and that it wasn’t healthy for me to be alone. So I stayed with dear friends, Chandre and Ian Williams, and then I ended up becoming housemates with my friend Heidi Salzwedel. This has made a huge difference to my mental state. She is my support structure,” Croucamp said.

She said aside from having a good support system, ensuring her room was a safe and cozy space and delving into puzzles, music and therapy, had helped her to manage her depression and anxiety in positive ways.

I’ve done a lot of colouring-in and puzzles in lockdown, and everything is quite fluffy and cozy in my room

“I’ve done a lot of colouring-in and puzzles in lockdown, and everything is quite fluffy and cozy in my room.

It makes me happy. But therapy has definitely been the main and most important thing for me.”

A press statement issued by the World Health Organisation in May warned of a huge increase in mental health conditions due to the pandemic and argued for increased investments in services for mental health around the world.

The WHO said, based on a policy brief on Covid-19 and mental health issued by the UN, there was an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety in several countries.

The WHO said a study carried out among young people with a history of mental health needs in the UK reported that 32% of them agreed that the pandemic had made their mental health much worse

“In China, health-care workers have reported high rates of depression (50%), anxiety (45%) and insomnia (34%) and in Canada, 47% of health-care workers have reported a need for psychological support.

“A study in Ethiopia in April reported a three-fold increase in the prevalence of symptoms of depression compared to estimates before the epidemic,” the WHO said.

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South Africa has been no exception to the increase of mental health issues with the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) helpline receiving twice the number of daily calls throughout the lockdown.

Months of isolation has fostered depression for some, while uncertainty has dredged up feelings of anxiety and fear for others. And, while Croucamp’s experience is a personal one, hundreds of South Africans are facing similar struggles.

Sadag operations director Cassey Chambers said there were no signs of the organisation’s daily workload slowing down.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of calls and people accessing our support services online such as sms, e-mail and WhatsApp counselling. Before lockdown, our help lines received about 600 calls a day.

“We have been monitoring our call volumes on a daily basis, and we are now receiving 1,200-1,400 calls a  day,” Chambers said.

The affect of Covid-19 affected so many aspects of people’s lives, that it was only normal for it to affect mental health

“The affect of Covid-19 affected so many aspects of people’s lives, that it was only normal for it to affect mental health.

People who had a mental health issue before Covid-19, were affected negatively. For many who didn’t have a mental health issue, the additional stressors during lockdown has triggered it.”

A survey conducted by Sadag in April found that 65% of respondents felt stressed during the lockdown.

The survey had more than 1,200 participants and found that the main challenges experienced during the lockdown included anxiety and panic (55%), financial stress and pressure (46%), and depression (40%).

Chambers said Sadag had seen the affect on people’s mental health changing and intensifying as the pandemic progressed, and anticipated they would receive more calls as more people were affected by Covid-19 in the coming months.

“At the start of lockdown, people were in crisis management mode — worried about the affect, trying to understand what they could do, what they are not allowed to do, what affect there would be on jobs, companies and schools, and that was a very stressful time.

As the lockdown progressed from the initial three weeks, into the extension and into the various alert levels and regulations, so did people’s isolation. Feelings of loneliness got worse, anxiety levels increased, people lost their jobs or had short pay or even no pay

“As the lockdown progressed from the initial three weeks, into the extension and into the various alert levels and regulations, so did people’s isolation.

“Feelings of loneliness got worse, anxiety levels increased, people lost their jobs or had short pay or even no pay,” Chambers said.

Charles Young, Rhodes University psychology department head, said: “There is no doubt that the pandemic and lockdown have [affected] people’s mental health.

“It would certainly have worsened existing feelings of anxiety and depression, while causing various emotional problems in many people who do not have a history of anxiety, depression or other mental disorders.”

He said there were various factors connected to the pandemic that could worsen existing issues or cause new mental health issues.

These include the social isolation caused by the lockdown, disruption to work, life and sleep/wake routines, loss of income and destroyed livelihoods, among others.

Young said fears about becoming infected, especially for those in front-line positions and the traumatic bereavement of losing friends and family members without contact and sometimes under terrible circumstances, were also major contributing factors for many.

Though these factors might affect some more negatively than others, Chambers said Sadag had received calls from people across the board, indicating the nationwide effects of the pandemic on mental health.

“We are getting calls from all ages, races, genders, professions and backgrounds.

Covid-19 has [affected] all South Africans and has not discriminated; the mental health affect just looks different for different people,” Chambers said.

“While some people have lost their jobs, their livelihoods, and are worried about how to put food on the table, other calls are from parents who are worried about their children’s anxiety levels, or calls from people not coping with the workload of their job at home, or business owners who have had to close their business and can’t pay their staff, or employees who have just lost their jobs.

“We have received calls from children all the way up to the elderly — which just shows that everyone has been affected in some way. Mental health doesn’t discriminate and neither does Covid.

“So many people are struggling and many need crisis intervention.”

Young said the effects of the pandemic on people’s mental health in South Africa could be long term.

“In some cases the effects will be long-lasting. Those most affected will have to rebuild their lives. It could be particularly bad in SA because our health system is under-resourced, our economy is weak, and social and economic safety nets are probably insufficient,” Young said.

Chambers said: “The ‘new normal’ is difficult to navigate as there is no guideline on how to work or manage the ups and downs of Covid-19.

“It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for, and to know when you need to seek professional help or reach out for help.”

• For self-help tips visit www.sadag.org. To speak to a counsellor at Sadag call 080- 21-22-23 or 0800-456-789, or sms 31393.

SIDEBAR: Self-care in a crate

Creating mindful self-care boxes, East London local Tess Vengadajellum is highlighting the importance of caring for your mental health with her new business venture.

While only establishing Crate of Mind in July, Vengadajellum has been harbouring the creative idea behind her small business for the past year.

She said the lockdown had finally given her the inspiration to focus on self-care and mental health.

“I believe that each of us knows of someone who is depressed, battles with anxiety or has at some point experienced it for themselves.

“I felt not enough was being done about emotional and mental wellbeing. We exercise, stretch, eat nutritious food. Do we stretch our minds, consume nutritional content on our cellphones?

“We need to make a conscious effort to equally see the importance of mental health, as we do with physical fitness.

“I’ve had this idea in my head for a year and I think the pandemic gave me the stage to bring attention to the importance of self-care, wellness and why looking after yourself is so important,” said Vengadajellum, who grew up in East London and matriculated at Hudson Park High School.

The 24-year-old studied marketing at Stellenbosch University and works as a social media manager for various companies.

She said she had enjoyed using the skills she gained from her course to run her own business.

Many people are nervous to start a business, especially during the nationwide lockdown and global pandemic. You have to work a lot harder and make your product desirable to the end user

“Many people are nervous to start a business, especially during the nationwide lockdown and global pandemic. You have to work a lot harder and make your product desirable to the end user.

“It was only when I started this venture that I actually grasped and understood the practical components of my studies. Each day, I am still learning where I can improve,” Vengadajellum said.

Her boxes are aimed at helping people take a time out and focus on their state of mind by taking a quiet moment to complete a colouring-in activity or reading a few words of encouragement.

The first box in her range, the Mindful Me box, consists of five items — a 30-day self-care journal, mini adult colouring in book, affirmation cards, a scented candle and chocolate.

“The self-care journal has a morning and evening entry to allow the person to comment how they are feeling and to be intentional about the day ahead. The journals encourage the user to be grateful and thankful.

When you decide to look at life through these lenses you train your brain to focus on positive thoughts and ultimately reduce anxiety

“When you decide to look at life through these lenses you train your brain to focus on positive thoughts and ultimately reduce anxiety.

“The two affirmation cards train the individual to start their day off by celebrating themselves, by overcoming  self-sabotaging thoughts and the negative outlook  we have of ourselves.”

The mini adult colouring book is the perfect way to digitally detox and unwind after a long day.

“The therapy books are said to have the ability to relax the fear centre of the brain, the amygdala, to reduce restlessness and generate mindfulness. The chocolate and scented candle just facilitate the mindful moment,” Vengadajellum said.

She said from the artisan chocolate to the thank you note, all products were locally sourced and she hoped to continue to support small business owners.

To find out more about Crate of Mind visit their Facebook page or website at www.crateofmind.co.za