Thread by @joannachiu

NEW: Toronto’s accelerating #COVID19 spread has killed the concept of “social bubbles", prompting officials to urge residents to get close only to other household members.

This is rough for people living alone or with people they have conflict with. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Globally, #COVID19 cases continue to spread, making people who have been acting responsibly feel "helpless," psychologists say.

I wrote about why the long winter ahead may bring a "triple whammy" of negative mental health factors. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar

I spoke with Mark, who very briefly considered putting off ending a relationship that wasn’t working out, so daunting was the prospect of a winter alone in his apartment with only the company of his roommate’s two cats.

His comments are pretty relatable: thestar.com/news/canada/20…

The worldwide death toll from #COVID19 has eclipsed 1 million, nine months into a crisis that has forced multitudes to change the way they live.

For many, socializing outdoors has been key to mental health.

But as the days get colder, this is harder: thestar.com/news/canada/20…

I started thinking about coping with the winter, when B.C. suffered 10 days of some of the worst air quality in the world.

Not being able to go out for walks, and everything looking apocalyptic, pushed me over the edge after months of persistent stress. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

In many parts of the world, the official advice is to stay within "social bubbles".

But through the spring and summer, the ease of seeing family and friends outdoors had delayed the awkward question: Who should you allow into your “bubble?”.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Bubbles *only* work when members exclusively socialize at proximity within members of that group and no one else, says Dr. @AnnaBanerji.

Having a bubble that's already burst can give people a false sense of security, says @GermHunterMD: thestar.com/news/canada/20…

“It’s safer to just not try and have a bubble,” was the conclusion Justin Pierrot and his wife made.

Pierrot is a maintenance technician. In the summer, his wife stayed home with their kids, but they're back at school and she's back to work. thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19

Thanksgiving being out of the question for many families can also be a source of sadness.

What can you do to make it through a long Canadian winter? I spoke with @UofT psychologist @SteveJoordens who had some advice: thestar.com/news/canada/20… #mentalhealth

.@SteveJoordens thinks there are ways we can try to take control of our mental health. He's offering this free online course so we can learn about our emotional systems: coursera.org/learn/manage-h…?

For me and others with a "Type A" approach to the pandemic, I wanted to accomplish a lot, pick up languages, write a book. Sinking into a depression during the wildfires forced me to deal with feelings that you can't just "power through". thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19

Acknowledging that you're struggling doesn't mean you're failing in any way. Needing to push aside those feelings for now because you're not ready to process them isn't failing, either!

thestar.com/news/canada/20…

What's your mind at now as the weather cools and days get shorter? How are you taking care of yourself?

thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #COVID19 #health

I thought this article had some great takeaways - "I spent a year in Tromsø, Norway, where the “Polar Night” lasts all winter—and where rates of seasonal depression are remarkably low. Here’s what I learned about happiness and the wintertime blues." theatlantic.com/health/archive…