The lockdown in South East Queensland has reminded us that, despite being one of the best States in Australia, we are not rid of COVID-19 yet.
All Queenslanders have come together over the past week to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the community. If we continue to look out for one another and listen to the directions from health authorities, we could soon be back to our normal way of life.
However, we still have a few more days of lockdown to go, and for people in quarantine, it may still be a couple of weeks before being allowed outside of their homes.
From our experiences over the last one and a half years, we know that these periods of lockdown can be very distressing. The sudden loss of social interaction and employment, and the added stressors of moving to remote work or schooling have impacted the mental health of many Queenslanders. Stress, confusion and anger are commonplace as a result of the pandemic, and if we do not utilise appropriate coping strategies, our mental health can suffer.
Some ways that you can support your mental health during periods of self-isolation or quarantine are:
- Remind yourself that this is a temporary period of isolation to slow the spread of the virus.
- Remember that your effort is helping others in the community avoid contracting the virus.
- Stay connected with friends, family and colleagues via email, social media, video conferencing or telephone.
- Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing.
- Keep regular sleep routines and eat healthy foods.
- Try to maintain physical activity.
- Establish routines as best possible and try to view this period as a new experience that can bring health benefits.
- For those working from home, try to maintain a healthy balance by allocating specific work hours, taking regular breaks and, if possible, establishing a dedicated work space.
- Avoid news and social media if you find it distressing.
If you feel like you need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact a QPP Peer Navigator through the “Chat with us!” function on our website. If you are a person living with HIV and are experiencing financial hardship during this time, please engage with us and we can explore all of your options. You can also contact the trained counsellors at Beyond Blue through online chat or by phone.
To assist people living with HIV in South East Queensland to remain socially connected during these times, QPP are having online social groups. These groups will provide you with an opportunity to meet with peers and connect in an informal setting. They will be facilitated by our Peer Navigation team and will have some great discussions planned for you.
Please click here to register for the next event on 11 August at 4pm:.
