Thread by @drlouisehansen

“A new type of survivor guilt: The term survivor guilt is usually used to describe emotional distress some people feel after surviving a traumatic event in which others have died, such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
It has been identified in military veterans, 1/14

those who survived the Holocaust, 9/11 survivors, and emergency first responders. COVID-19 has certainly been a traumatic experience and has had a profound impact on mental health. Around 1,000 people have died by suicide in Australia since it began and 2/14

modelling from the University of Sydney found suicide deaths could rise by 25% annually for the next five years. During COVID-19 we have witnessed the conventional type of survivor guilt associated with surviving the coronavirus when hundreds of thousands haven’t. 3/14

But not everyone is struggling, and this has resulted in a new type of survivor guilt. This emerging type of guilt is characterised by not feeling “impacted enough” by the pandemic. This type of survivor guilt can be seen in the workplace. 4/14

The pandemic has forced many organisations to reduce staffing, causing some remaining employees to feel guilty, according to John Hackston, head of thought leadership at the Myers-Briggs Co. 5/14

Survivor guilt can result in a range of emotions, from shame to a sense of unworthiness or even anger. When emotions are not processed properly, they can impact our physical and mental health and cause depression, anxiety and physical illness. 6/14

It’s OK to be OK during the pandemic: While mental health advocates and support groups are right to remind people who are struggling that it’s “OK not to be OK” during this pandemic, it’s important to remember it’s “OK to be OK” too. 7/14

Professor Kim Felmingham from the University of Melbourne says feeling guilty about being “OK” during these challenging times isn’t just a “perfectly normal” reaction — it’s part of our evolutionary programming. 8/14

That’s because feeling survivor guilt means you are feeling empathy for others who have been less fortunate. In an evolutionary sense, empathy allows us to form close social bonds and connections. “So give yourself a break, don’t beat yourself up if you are feeling guilty.” 9/14

It’s OK to feel OK during the pandemic. Unless we tackle survivor guilt, it could ultimately add to the mental health burden of COVID-19 by manifesting as future depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. For anyone struggling with these feelings, 10/14

it’s important to remember this pandemic is not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. You just happen to be lucky to be healthy, or to live in a place that’s relatively unaffected by the virus, or to work in an occupation that can withstand a recession. 11/14

How to manage guilt: Guilt can sometimes be turned into a positive thing; a sort of moral compass to help give back to the world. If your mind is going down a negative path, perhaps you might like to start a “gratitude journal” to list the things for which you are thankful. 12/14

It could help you settle into a more positive mindset, and allow you to ask yourself whom you can help right now, perhaps financially, physically with something like childcare, or mentally by letting someone unload some of their own stress on you with a simple chat.” 13/14

‘It's OK to be OK: how to stop feeling 'survivor guilt' during COVID-19’. Written by Erin Smith (2020) A/Prof, Disaster and Emergency Response from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Edited for Thread. 14/14