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CLINICAL OPINION
Rethinking mental health in COVID-19 By Dr Jenny Brockis, GP and workplace consultant, City Beach Uncertainty, fear and a growing sense of isolation is leading to the next public health crisis as measures taken to respond to the pandemic take a toll on resilience and mental wellbeing. Heightened anxiety early in the pandemic saw a rapid rise in demand for psychological services. Now there is a more worrying trend of increasing despair and depression. Are more prescriptions for anxiolytics and antidepressants the best we can do in the face of increasing levels of psychological distress in our society? Can we find better long-term solutions to mental health problems? It’s time to think outside the square and ask questions. How can we get better at recognising who is at risk, better at understanding the significant role physiology,
Key messages
Mental health problems are increasing
We need to ask questions “outside the square” Evaluate and manage the whole person.
emotional wellbeing and social determinants play in risk management and better at educating our patients about the importance of looking after their mental health? How can we get better at advising on simple practical tools to improve or stabilise mood, and develop a smart integrated system that partners with a variety of health and community resources to
enable every patient to access the appropriate level of care and service needed in a timely manner?
Restoring mental wellbeing As Benjamin Franklin said, “A pound of prevention is worth an ounce of cure.” In times of crisis it’s natural to seek reassurance and to follow leaders we can trust. As health practitioners we can assist our patients by helping them understand what is normal to experience in these unusual times, what is possible for them to focus on to improve their state of mind, and how to become proactive and self-reliant to build long-term resilience.
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MEDICAL FORUM | RESPIR ATORY HEALTH ISSUE
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 39
