The Pandemic Is Real – Let’s Brave Through Together

A storm was brewing before we even started with the year 2020. A long list of resolutions, some getting ready for their last year of student life, some expecting job promotions, and some saw an opportunity for a better year than the last. Nonetheless there are still many countless blessings that are constantly being showered upon us. However, the unprecedented storm that hit your ship which was sailing in a peaceful ocean has been hard on the crew members, or your family, and you as a captain as well. We understand that the duty of a captain in times of a rough sea is to maintain their calm for the family members. As a woman, you might have often found yourself overwhelmed with emotions, unable to stay resilient like you have always proven to be. At times your mental health might seem on your lowest. Let’s turn the page to 1918 when the Spanish Influenza was spreading rapidly. While we have statistics of the morbidity and mortality rates of the virus, little research is available on the Mental Health impact of the Spanish Influenza. However, one of the few people who did research on the subject is Svenn-Eric Mamelund. Looking at asylum hospitalizations in Norway from 1872 to 1929, Mamelund found that the number of first-time hospitalized patients with mental disorders attributed to influenza increased by an average annual factor of 7.2 in the 6 years following the pandemic. In addition, he pointed out that Spanish flu survivors reported sleep disturbances, depression, mental distraction, dizziness, and difficulties coping at work, and that influenza death rates in the United States during the years 1918-1920 significantly and positively related to suicide. However, the time and technology has changed tremendously since 1918. We have the internet which can keep us virtually connected to each other. As offices were closed due to the lockdown, majority of the work shifted to work from home. We have seen ourselves become productive in a way that we had never imagined before.

However, now that the virus is spreading rapidly, there are many families that have been impacted by the virus. It is important that we stay virtually connected with each other through technology. Those who are mentally impacted by the pandemic can seek help from online mental health professionals to help them get through this time. Right now, all of us are caught in this unexpected storm having no preparation whatsoever to face these challenging times. We’re all in the same unstable ocean, but different vessels to sail. Physically apart, every family is trying to keep their vessel afloat. These tough and relentless times can threaten your need of survival and keep you anxious. However, being the captain, you bear a strong face for your family, so they have a sense of assurance that things are in control. Women, as the analogy suggests, are the captains of the ship that is their home. Day after day they put on a strong mask to hide their own feelings of anxiety and fear because of the pandemic for their family. At the end, who will take care of these resilient leaders? Join the first event of the series, the COVID-19 Diaries, in which you will learn about taking care of your anxiety and stress while captaining the ship to the calm sea once again. Braving through the Pandemic will be your guideline on staying strong during these times. Not by avoiding talking about mental health and putting on a strong face, but by tackling these feelings of stress and anxiety head on! Register now for this INVITE ONLY Event from this link and join us on the 12th of July ‘2020 at 7:30pm to get the guidance on how to steer your ship through these uncharted waters and make it easy to talk about mental health.