Mental Health Matters: How to stay connected in lockdown

Thousands of people across the country have been working from home, with non-essential shops, schools, and universities also closed until further notice.

Long periods of isolation have left many people feeling disconnected, lonely, and unsure of what the future may hold. The sudden removal of structured life has brought worries and anxieties to the surface, and this is amplified by the inability to share our thoughts with those close to us, who in some cases may be isolating elsewhere.

Doctors have seen an uptick in the number of appointments relating to mental health, with 42% of psychiatrists reporting an increase in urgent appointments. A survey by Statista in May revealed that the pandemic has negatively affected mental health in 34% of the population.

As we begin to enter a new stage of the pandemic, the government have been looking at ways to ease the lockdown gradually. Here, we take a close look at some of the ways that you can maintain your mental health in lockdown and stay connected with your loved ones.

1. Try a virtual workout

With gyms closed around the country, thousands of us have been turning to virtual workouts to stay fit and healthy. For many others, the boredom of lockdown and self-isolation has driven them to exercise.

Personal trainer Joe Wicks has seen a rise in subscriptions to his YouTube channel, after hosting daily workouts for parents and children. On 20th March, schools, colleges and universities were closed in a bid to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Wicks’ subscribers have jumped from 842,000 to 2.4 million, as more than 169 million views of his videos were recorded.

If a 9am start is too much for you, you could take to Instagram for your exercise fix. You can even be invited to go live with your trainer on Instagram to give that virtual class a little bit more authenticity — the only problem being that they will know if you have said you’ve joined the class, only to be sat on the sofa tucking into a packet of biscuits instead!

2. Go for a socially distanced walk

Under the government’s lockdown guidelines, you can meet up with one person from a different household to spend time outside. While it is not inviting us to go out and have a street party, it does help us to restore a sense of community.

Going out just once a day for some light exercise and a chat will do wonders for your mental health. Not only will you be releasing stress-busting endorphins through some daily exercise, but you will be able to improve your mood by sharing any problems or anxieties with another person.

3. Take the opportunity to learn a new language

Video conference apps like Zoom have been incredibly popular during lockdown. It has opened doors for people to socialise across all sectors of society, including those who are trying to get to grips with languages.

Learning a language with others on Zoom is great for talking to native speakers, or others who want to learn, as it really helps you get an idea of proper pronunciation and context. Of course, the standard language learning apps such as Duolingo can also be great for brushing up on your skills!

4. Become a Tik Tok sensation

In the last quarter of 2019, 8.7% of all smart phone owners had downloaded TikTok, a popular video sharing platform. Prior to lockdown it was forecast that this number would grow to 10% by the end of 2020, but such has been the surge in app downloads, that TikTok unveiled its first TV advertisement in the UK this week.

People are flocking to the channel in their droves to share funny content, create dance routines, and find a way to talk to others with similar interests. So, whether you want to show off your latest lockdown hairstyle or set up a dance duet with celebrities, the platform is primed for some self-isolation socialising!

5. Boost your career skills

Whilst it may feel as though life is standing still, this period of downtime is perfect for brushing up on your CV and career skills. The disappointment of being made redundant or placed on furlough for several months might be hitting the purse strings and raising anxieties. However, a proactive approach can be taken that will not only get you back into the working world but provide opportunities to socialise from the comfort of your own homes.

Colleges and universities all over the UK are offering free online courses, which can be great for learning new skills or perfecting your existing ones. Tony Lewin, Principal of Newcastle College, which has launched a range of free courses, said: “We felt it was really important to offer support to people during this challenging period.

“Many of our free courses are aimed at helping people deal with some of the challenges that this pandemic has brought, whether it’s learning more about managing mental health, brushing up on computer skills or even learning about infection prevention and control.”