What does social disruption and physical distancing mean for our mental health and for our personal safety during the #COVID19 pandemic?
Here's our Q&A with @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent) and Barb MacQuarrie (@learntoendabuse) 👇
Here's our Q&A with @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent) and Barb MacQuarrie (@learntoendabuse) 👇
Thank you to @asksarahdawson and @westernuAlumni for hosting this live #COVID19 Q&A with our #WesternU research experts. #purpleandproud
Dr. Chandlee Dickey (@SchulichMedDent) is an internationally renowned expert in psychiatric education. She's especially focused on #mentalhealth for all and effective ways to stay calm and manage your well-being during these uncertain times. schulich.uwo.ca/psychiatry/peo… 
Barb MacQuarrie (@learntoendabuse, @westernuEdu) is an expert on workplace harassment and sexual violence, and is currently studying the increased vulnerability for abused women and children in isolation due to #COVID19. learningtoendabuse.ca/about/faculty-…
Q1: Social distancing is helping flatten the curve, but what are the potential impacts of distancing on people's sense of well-being? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A1: “I think many of us maybe chose the wrong term (social distancing). We really need social connection. Throughout history, people have had to come together in times of distress and in in times of worry.” - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q2: Have the recommended public health measures created more vulnerabilities for people? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A2: For women who are in abusive relationships, isolation is already a primary dynamic of that relationship. They're already being limited in terms of who they can interact with - family members, friends, and even co workers. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
A2: The number of people experiencing abuse that actually reach out to professional services is relatively low. The people who know that something is wrong, those are really our social circles, our friends, neighbours families and co-workers. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q3: There's just a constant barrage of new stories about COVID-19 and it's hard to avoid that. Some people are getting really anxious reading everything, seeing everything all the time. Is this normal? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A3: If we see this as happening to us, as opposed to us controlling our lives, we're not going to do as well. If we see this as an opportunity and ourselves as empowered agents, then we'll fare better. But yes of course we're going to being anxious. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q4: Do you have some strategies that either one of you might be able to share on how to mitigate the anxiety that comes with uncertainty? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A4: The best thing we can do is to connect through means that we have available to us. A telephone is a really good way to talk to somebody. Finding ways to stay in touch has never been more important. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
A4: At times of stress, we often lose the basics like healthy eating habits, maintaining exercise. Sleep is very, very important. It affects our well-being, our ability to pay attention, our optimism. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
A4: Also basic meditation. There are lots of free apps for guided meditations that are simple. It's not that we have to become this super zen-like person. We just start where we are and do what we can to stay focused during these difficult days. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q5: One of the questions that came in over social media was “Is it okay that I'm not as productive at work and are we supposed to be productive right now?” - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A5: It's a little bit of surrender to the circumstances, let go of some expectations, some wonderful plans. Rethink how you might be able to do things that were supposed to happen, but not caught up in business as usual, because it's just not. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
A5: Appreciate what we each are contributing during this pandemic. “My job is to stay home, not get the disease, not pass on the disease. And that's okay.” Reframing in a positive way, seeing oneself again as an actor, can be really helpful. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q6: People might talk about not having the luxury of self care. Is there a way of thinking about that differently? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A6: Self-care is really critical. And, for people who are experiencing abuse, really, really difficult. But in order to cope, in order to survive in those circumstances, you have to find small ways to take care of yourself. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q7: In recent history, do we have any past experiences that we can draw on to understand what the current situation might be like for those who are in abusive relationships? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A7: In times of stress, reports of domestic violence and violence against women and children increase significantly. After the 2008 financial crash, we had increased reports. We have research from natural disasters, where routines and connections are disrupted. - Barb MacQuarrie
Q8: What responsibilities do workplaces have to supporting in this remote environment that we're working in? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A8: In Ontario, we were the first jurisdiction around the world to have specific duties to protect employees from harm, the results of domestic violence. That duty does not end just because we're in a pandemic and people are working from home. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
A8: It would be much easier for workplaces to support employees experiencing domestic violence if we had prepared ahead. We really, really need to focus on how employers can support to employees experiencing domestic violence. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q9: Students have been asked to move from a typical classroom experience to online. If they're asked to continue to learn this way, disconnected from their classmates and from their normal environments that they'd be in, how can they cope? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A9: Some learners are socioeconomically disadvantaged. They don't have stable internet, their parents are less tech savvy, maybe a little less educated. The worry is that this cohort will fall further behind. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
A9: See what of normal life we can preserve. Is there a way to have trombone practice more online using zoom? If soccer is their thing, can we come up with creative ways that the team can still stay connected? - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q10: Are we seeing an increase in calls across helplines throughout the province and in Canada? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A10: There is a dramatically large rise in calls to our local health lines and that's good. People have been suffering from #mentalhealth issues, loneliness, anxiety forever. Now it's okay to call. Now it's okay to talk. A #COVID19 silver lining? - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
A10: It's really important message for anybody experiencing abuse. Some may have the impression that shelters are closed or that they're over capacity. Shelters are innovating and they're changing the way that they service people. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q11: Do you think that people are framing the pandemic as a monster? And maybe they feel like they can't beat it or win? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A11: When we're talking to little kids or small children about #COVID19, sometimes it's good to make it external like a monster to battle. For other people, that can that kind of framing may create a sense of powerlessness and helplessness. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q12: Do you have any recommendations on how to wear many hats simultaneously during this time? And maintain your well-being? What are the tricks? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A12: Acknowledge and be open about what's going on in your life. Don't try to be the person that can manage everything and that doesn't need to ask for any accommodations. Be open with co-workers and supervisors about what you can and can't do. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q13: Any recommendations for mental health and well-being for elementary and secondary students? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A13: Kids need exercise in order to be effective learners and to be ready to learn. If their exercise goes down, they're not going to sleep as well, which compounds the problem. Develop an exercise routine that they think is really fun. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q14: Are there specific findings regarding Indigenous communities or youth on the streets during this pandemic? Or maybe just your thoughts on how they're being affected? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A14: Yes, those groups are going to be disproportionately impacted. If you think about people who are already less well-resourced, you can see that's going to play out when we're all isolated, not in our routines, have financial stressors. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
On learningtoendabuse.ca, we have resources that specifically look at the challenges of particular marginalized groups - written in plain english, very accessible. Put whatever you're looking for in the search function and you will find lots. - Barb MacQuarrie, @learntoendabuse
Q15: If you're working with someone that you suspect is struggling but hasn't brought forward their concern, what are some ways that you might check in on people - that also maintain the individual's boundaries? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A15: Something organizations can do upfront, and make formal in a preventative way, is to create a buddy system. Buddies text each other each day. Are you okay? Over time, you can see whether there's been a shift in your partner's responses. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Q16: What future of opportunities will be in the mental health field as a profession, coming out of #COVID19? Will we be seeing more opportunity for people to work in this area? - Sarah Dawson, @westernuAlumni
A16: I hope so. And I hope we work differently. We're seeing our patients virtually and that allows patients to stay in their workplace and still get the mental health care they need or stay at home and get the mental health care that they need. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
My dream from #COVID19 is that we expand our conceptualization of what #mentalhealth care can be like, and empower people with tools to support each other, whether it's a grandmother on the bench or in a high tech way. - @ccdickey (@schulichmeddent)
Thank you to our panelists, to our host, and to our #WesternU community for your questions today! The entire live broadcast is available on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/7616007794/vid… facebook.com/7616007794/vid…
