The Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted a webinar to assist its staff to make sense of the second wave of COVID-19 stress and anxiety on Microsoft Teams, on Tuesday (10 February 2021).
Addressing the DUT staff, EWP Manager, Samantha Rajcoomar said surviving the second wave of COVID-19 whether personally or professionally is indeed an anxiety provoking and a very stressful situation.
“For me it appears as though anxiety and COVID-19 fatigue has become airborne. It’s a very challenging topical issue right now. Remember that you are not alone, for many of us finding that right balance between work and home while dealing with grief, bereavement whether post traumatic mental health issues, even isolation can be challenging. The thought of a balanced life has gone out of the window, the reality is that we are all burnt out and the perception is that every day is indeed a bad day,” said Rajcoomar.
She said for some people their existing mental health conditions have worsened meanwhile for others anxiety, depression, sleep issues even medical problems have surfaced recently. Rajcoomar assured her colleagues that not all is doom and gloom, they just need to understand and accept their feelings in order to look out for themselves and their families during this difficult time.
The keynote speaker was psychologist, Claudette Jordan who unpacked the coping skills and gave out tips on how the staff can enhance their mental health.
Jordan said the current emotional climate is that most people are showing symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress related concerns are high. She further added that many people are struggling with grief due to losses, financial setbacks or losing loved ones even colleagues. She assured everyone that they are not abnormal and certainly not alone if they have been feeling stressed and depressed, they are just suffering from the pandemic fatigue.
“Pandemic Fatigue is the mental and physical exhaustion that occurs with continually navigating and uncertainty with no end in sight. In addition to anxiety, stress and sadness, some people feel boredom, loneliness while some are suffering from decreased motivation which resort to anger, resentment and outright rebellion,” said Jordan.
Furthermore, she said the two elements of stress that can have an impact in the people’s mental health is if the stress is intense and if it is prolonged, the pandemic produces both elements. She said with the pandemic people are faced with a situation which is intense because it is very threatening and it’s also prolonged since it is ongoing. According to Jordan the people’s bodies are not meant to deal with intense prolonged stress which is why many people are being affected during this time.
Jordan advised everyone to have enough sleep since it is of imperative neurological and physiological importance. She said lack of sleep impacts one’s mood, leads to poor performance, disrupts learning and attention and increases chances of depression. She urged people to start adapting and implementing new practices, in order to find themselves and better cope with the current situation.
Pictured: Psychologist, Claudette Jordan
Simangele Zuma
