Written by: Isa Novicio
Graphic Design by: Suzette Mamangun
In her written ‘Message from the WFMH President’, Dr. Ingrid Daniels wrote:
“The world is experiencing the unprecedented impact of the current global health emergency due to COVID-19 that has also impacted on the mental health of millions of people. We know that the levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress experienced have become widespread as the world struggles to bring the virus under control and to find solutions.”
As the world observes World Mental Health Day this October 10, 2020, it comes at a time where lives all over the world have gone to turmoil. It is a given that the current situation of being in constant isolation has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. Running on its 28th year, the goal of this year’s campaign is titled ‘Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere’.
Connecting the Dots: The Media and Mental Health
Amidst the global pandemic, with the constant overload of news, both legitimate and fake, it may be difficult at times to keep track of what to believe and what to ignore. Being in isolation has caused the majority of people to always be on their phones and/or laptops to remain updated with the current situation, not only of the Philippines, but of the world. During the past decade, online social networking has caused profound changes in the way people communicate and interact. It is unclear, however, whether some of these changes may affect certain normal aspects of human behavior and cause psychiatric disorders. (Pantic, 2014)
Social media has proven to be a double-edged sword. Although staying informed is crucial in these current trying times, an overload of information may cause more damage than good, seeing as one may try to absorb more information than recommended. News, nowadays, is delivered in a time where highlights include stories of workers being isolated from their families, statistics and charts of reported deaths and/or cases caused by the pandemic, etc. Directly lifted from the article entitled, ‘Is Watching the News Bad for Mental Health?’, Logan Jones, a licensed psychologist states:
“Unfortunately, a lot of the news we consume today isn’t so much reporting as it is a way of keeping people addicted to the news cycle. Consuming too much of this kind of news, whether actively or passively, can be very toxic, and what you hear has an impact on your mood.”
Being informed doesn’t necessarily indicate the need to continually reload online news platforms. It is vital to remember that it is okay to not always be online. Stepping away from one’s screen can be one of the most refreshing forms of self-care.
The Role of Institutions: Positive School Environments
However, social media activity is not the only factor to a person’s mental well-being. This year, students and teachers all over the world abruptly adjusted to online classes where learning and teaching are mediated by platforms that demand stable Internet connection and devices such as: Google Classroom, Canvas, Zoom, etc. This sudden demand for media and digital literacy is one of the main contributors to the additional mental baggage that students and teachers everywhere carry with them.
Faculty members are feeling the huge stress of remaking their classes into effective digital forms. The additional workload and concomitant anxiety are heaped upon the already multifaceted responsibilities of faculty. The added load has heightened the concerns over faculty burnout. (Schroeder, 2020)
It is unfair to confine mental health awareness activities to physical spaces as it has become clear that setting up and managing online classrooms pose an even greater amount of stress for teachers. Activities that are regularly done on-campus such as guidance counselling and class bonding should continue to be facilitated online. implemented projects like these can greatly dedicate to sustain and promote morale. Cited directly from Pat Shea and Sue Armitage’s ’Guidelines for Creating Student Services Online’, in order to maintain a positive environment and safe space online for the whole school community, institutions are recommended to provide:
“Mental Health Education: Provide links to articles on issues common to college students (e.g. stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse);”
“Crisis Services: Prominently display phone numbers for crisis and/or suicide hotlines;”
“Self-help Services: Provide access to tools for self-evaluation, with accompanying articles on strategies for coping with common mental health issues;”
“Counseling services: Provide links to the campus counseling center and clearly state what services are/are not available to distance students. Feedback channels need to be in place to ensure that students or faculty who make inquiries for services receive a personal response.”
Maintaining a Sound CyberSpace
On top of making sure one is emotionally healthy and safe, it is also crucial to remember to make sure that one’s online workspace is also safe, private, and secure. It is pivotal to have a workplace that is accessible only to the owner, seeing as that people globally have shifted to the online world, as the primary setting for work and school. One can simply ensure a secure online workspace through:
Deciphering whether an email is fake or not: Hackers are prone to compromise one’s privacy online through phishing (an attempt to lure individuals into providing their personal information - like financial statements, social security numbers, and/or credit card provides - through sending fake emails that ‘require’ the said information) Legitimate emails often don’t ask for this information, therefore if an email appears to be suspicious to you, chances are, it is.
Activating quality antivirus software: Installing quality-grade antivirus software, like ‘Norton’, for example, can prevent viruses from being installed into one’s laptop during downloading different applications.
Turning on the two-factor authentication setting: Two-factor authentication verifies your identity by another factor, which is typically one of these three things: something you are, something you own, or something you know. Verifying something you "are" could be done through a fingerprint or iris scan. Something you own could be your mobile phone and phone number, as in, you'll get a text message with a special code to enter. (Duffy, 2015)
Practicing Self-Care: Stay Informed and Mentally-Healthy
Although one of the most common forms of self-care is taking a ‘social media detox’, it’s difficult at times to stay away from technology when so much of our current generation has built the majority of its foundation around the concept itself.
Younger generations grew up with a mobile device in their hands. They naturally expect workplace technologies to mirror the technologies they use in their educational and personal experiences. (Wiley, 2016)
With technology becoming a great part of everyday life, it is easier said than done to just ‘step away’ from the internet. That being said, ‘social media detoxes’ do not have to be lengthy and overdue; they can be taken at constant intervals. It is okay to allow oneself to take a break, breathe, and enjoy your surroundings. Tips to make sure that media and school do not negatively impact you, include :
Distancing yourself from mobile applications and/or websites that appear to contribute to the promotion of unrealistic body images. Applications that focus on meditation and self-love could aid in the uplifting one’s self-esteem and inner serenity.
Dedicating a specific time each day, be it a few hours or minutes, where all notifications are turned off and settings are set at either ‘do not disturb’ or ‘airplane mode’.
Expressing yourself through offline cathartic, creative outlets, like writing, painting, dancing, etc.
Not checking your phone at least thirty minutes before going to bed. At times, the harsh UV rays of electronic gadgets may irritate the eyes and cause difficulty for some people to fall asleep easily.
In accordance with this year’s campaign, ‘Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere’, one’s mental health should not be a temporary priority but moreover a long-term investment. This actively illustrates that both on and offline, people need to remember that overall wellness cannot be achieved if one’s emotional wellbeing is absent. Mental healthcare is a human right and should be promoted without such a stigma surrounding it.
References:
Social media and adolescents’ and young adults’ mental health. (2018, August 10). National Center for Health Research. Retrieved October 04, 2020 from https://www.center4research.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/
World mental health day 2020. (n.d.). World Federation for Mental Health. Retrieved October 4, 2020, from https://wfmh.global/world-mental-health-day-2020/
Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(10), 652–657. Retrieved October 5, 2020 from https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0070
Is watching the news bad for mental health? (2020, May 18). Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 5, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/is-watching-the-news-bad-for-mental-health-4802320
Shea, P., & Armitage, S. (2002). Guidelines for Creating Student Services Online Retrieved October 5, 2020 from https://wcet.wiche.edu/sites/default/files/overview.pdf
How to protect your privacy online. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2020, from https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-privacy-protecting-your-privacy-online.html
March 24, J. D., 2015, & P.m, 3:30. (2015, March 24). 10 simple things you can do to be more secure online. PCMag Asia. Retrieved October 5, 2020, from https://sea.pcmag.com/software/2430/10-simple-things-you-can-do-to-be-more-secure-online
Technology generation gap: Generational workforce differences in firms. (2020, February 6). Firm of the Future. Retrieved October 8, 2020, from https://www.firmofthefuture.com/content/understanding-todays-workforce-generational-differences-and-the-technologies-they-use/