Mental Wellbeing in Focus

By Narsha James (BSc, MA)

My five-year-old son asked me recently, “Mommy when is COVID-19 going to be finished?” I must confess that my thoughts matched his in that moment, and I too wondered when this surreal experience would be over. The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic still being present years after its onset is daunting. Many of us never expected that public health measures would still be in place in the year 2022, two years later. Furthermore, the proliferation of online digital platforms for many and varying events has led to information overload and many persons being overwhelmed. The difference that the pandemic made to the daily activities (or lack thereof) of many individuals has influenced the state of their mental wellbeing (Diamond & Byrd, 2020). The effects of this influence range from getting used to the ‘new normal’ to experiencing the loss of loved ones. Life has changed. And for many, it may have gotten harder to manage their thoughts, emotions and relationships. Consequently, persons have had to make mental wellbeing a priority in order to cope, (and possibly flourish), under these difficult circumstances (Campion et al., 2020).

Mental wellbeing includes several dimensions that exist along a continuum. These dimensions include psychological, emotional and social factors, which affect each other and are influenced by internal and external features (Sarafino & Smith, 2014). For instance, it may appear obvious that a person’s mental wellbeing can be affected by living with an abusive family member; however, a negative thought pattern can have the same effects. Additionally, the ability to identify and regulate one’s emotions may affect the quality of a person’s friendships. Overall, a person’s mental wellbeing, like their general health, can change over time. Situations, such as the pandemic, can result in positive and/or negative shifts in a person’s thoughts, emotions and interpersonal relationships. These external influences can shift a person’s mental wellbeing depending on their developmental stage. For example, a child’s mood may be greatly influenced by his/her parents and peers, whereas, a 65-year-old retiree may have a quiet sense of equilibrium that is seldom shaken by external forces. It can then be said, that mental wellbeing is dynamic and interconnected (Sarafino & Smith, 2014). Accordingly, the pandemic situation may be making it more difficult for many persons to manage this dynamic aspect of their lives.

Despite the challenges as a result of the pandemic, it is imperative that attention, time, and effort be given to mental wellbeing since it affects every other aspect of our lives. For instance, a person who feels overwhelmed by the daily Covid-19 pandemic updates, may experience poor sleep resulting in decreased work performance and family interactions. Therefore, we cannot afford to leave our mental wellbeing unmanaged and unchecked, despite cultural norms that proclaim its insignificance. Mental wellbeing is important, and it must be nurtured like any other aspect of our health if we wish to realize its benefits.

References

Campion, J., Javed, A., Sartorius, N. & Marmot, M. (2020). Addressing the public mental health challenge of COVID-19. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(8), 657-659.
Diamond, R. & Byrd, E. (2020). Standing up for health – Improving mental wellbeing during COVID-19 isolation by reducing sedentary behavior. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277(1), 232-234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.137
Sarafino, P. E. & Smith, T. W. (2014). Health Psychology biopsychosocial interactions (8th ed.). Wiley & Sons.