Psychological Coping During Disease Outbreak

Confusion

Fear

Ignorance

Mistrust

Stigma

Panic

Rumours

面對公共衛生危機時的心理影響The psychological impacts in face of public health crisis

In the face of the recent emergence of pneumoniaassociated with the novel coronavirus, many ofus would feel worrisome, especially as we haveexperienced SARS back in 2003 and do not wish to relivethe pain and fear caused by the outbreak. It is understandable for people to experience the fear andanxiety in face of uncertainty; they can help us cope withthe situation in short term. Yet, if the fear and anxietyturn to a long-term condition or become very intense,they would not help people, but rather lower one’s abilityto adapt and cope withthe crisis. Meanwhile, we may also experience othercommon post-critical incident reactions such as lowmood, insomnia, anger etc. It is therefore important for us to adjust emotionally in away that is healthy to both mind and body. Below are some tips for us during these times:

How to cope with stress related to public health crisis and maintain a healthy mind

Educate yourself and others with accurate information suchas proper hand washing and cleaning practices, clinics andhospitals to seek help from when needed, and places to buycleaning materials;

Maintain your daily routine as much as possible: you cancontinue to engage in leisure or meaningful activities even athome, like talking to or spending time with family and pets,reading books, cooking, and doing relaxation exercises;

Call your friends and family to keep in touch and show yourcare for each other.

Fact-check any news you receive from different placesagainst more trustworthy sources;

Take time to acknowledge your own, normal feelings of fearand helplessness;

Do:

Blindly follow actions and recommendations you receivewithout fact-checking, and these may lead to furtherconfusion and unhelpful or irrational behaviors such asexcessive purchases of food and medical supplies, andholding stigma against people with sickness;

Spend too much time looking for information / news, asexcessive reading would only create more fear and anxietythan you already hold;

Share information and news that can cause fear andconfusion to yourself and others without fact-checkingagainst trustworthy sources;

Keep thoughts and feelings to yourself without sharing yourconcerns with loved ones.

Don’t: