Counselling during the time of COVID-19 Pandemic

Health as defined by WHO “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – This is the definition of health as laid out by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O).

These three components of health, namely Physical condition described as strength, stamina, the energy of an individual, Mental State related to various thoughts, and emotions of a person and Social Well Being associated with the interaction of society with the existence of the same person, are all interdependent on each other.   Thus for treating any illness it requires a multi-disciplinary approach of health care team compromising of doctors, nurses and health technicians, psychologists, mental health specialists and also the citizens of the community.

The definition of health by W.H.O. is now more appropriate than ever before especially when the world is in midst of a pandemic, of global and epic proportions referred to Worldwide as Corona Virus. This is the biggest health crisis of our times affecting all the countries of world and touching the lives of entire humanity one way or another. 

The world gripped by COVID-19 pandemic

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) otherwise known as COVID-19 virus, which experts believe to have been originated from China in late 2019 (December-2019), has been a cause of death for around 745,000 people worldwide &  affecting not less than 20.4 million people. In India it has spread to around 29 lakh people and the death due to COVID-19, now stands at around 60,000 populations. Such is the challenge of Covid-19, that in order to stop the spread of disease Indian government had to enforce a total nationwide lockdown in 2 phases of totalling 38 days ( 24^th March 2020 to 3^rd May 2020), with subsequent easing of relaxation, but with mandatory social distancing and personal hygiene norms.  

Especially in India, during this phase there was an untold loss of economic activity not only faced by the governments but directly hampering almost all citizens at an individual level. Along with the prolonged lockdown measures, coupled with the rising number of cases & severe economic losses (many times resulting in Job or work loss), and with the imposition of restriction of social movement and social distancing norms, there was another pandemic which was growing. This was about the mental wellbeing and emotional stress being faced by a person. Covid-19, psychologically affected almost all person of the country, in-one way or the other.

In such a gloomy scenario, Heart2Mind has been at the forefront of helping to improve the quality of life of people whose household has been affected by this corona virus pandemic. By providing counselling sessions, interacting with individuals affected, suggesting and advising various ways of combating the emotional trauma and giving a patience hearing to these people needed by them especially at the time of great vulnerability of both physical and mental conditions

The topics covered during our sessions comprises of

1. Eating the right food: We advise them to eat warm food all the time, avoiding refrigerated products, giving importance to green salads, and consumption of citrus fruits in their daily diet schedule.

2. Home-based remedies: We suggest them for various home-based remedies like drinking “Kadha”, gargling with luke-warm saline water, drinking turmeric milk and having portions of honey,  lemon, pepper and ginger syrup.

3. Stay Engaged: We advise people to stay engaged during the quarantine or the isolation by listening to light music, watching entertainment and comedy shows, and reading books. They are instructed to stay away from negative Covid related news.

4. Practicing yoga and meditation: The entire world knows the beneficial effect of Yoga and meditation. Here at Heart2Mind, we strongly recommend practising Yoga and meditation. These not only develop immune-resistance but also help the mind to be active and physically strengthens the health.

5. Maintaining social distance and hygiene: One of the best methods of ways to prevent the spread of corona virus is by ensuring strict social distancing. We instruct everyone who is counselled by us to adhere to the norms. Even if they are in quarantine or in home isolation. We tell them, thereby they would not spread the disease to their family members or friends.

6. Providing courage about not being affected by gossips of neighbours and society: We have come across many people who are very much bothered by the negative gossips and remarks made by community members on the people of the household who are tested positive and specially if their house has a sticker in front . We advise them not to engage with such people till they have been cured. We tell them that the priority is health and they should not be feeling more harassed by such remarks.

7. No restriction in engaging in conversation over phone calls and social media: We encourage people to talk to their friends, family and their loved ones over phone and social media apps. Wherever they feel they are struck, be it lockdown, isolation or quarantine, they are encouraged to talk with people they can share feelings. Corona virus has restricted social movement, but has not stopped social circles.

Having a positive mind-set is the key to defeat the emotional stress, people are undergoing. We here at Heart2Mind would want to fight this condition together.

For any information you can contact us at contactus@heart2mind.com or +91-8595752152.