A Sabah psychiatrist says society should adopt a more open and positive mindset towards those who have beaten the Covid-19 virus. (Bernama pic)
KOTA KINABALU: A psychiatrist has advised stressed out Covid-19 survivors to take a break from social media and news, warning that an overload of information can affect their mental health.
“If you are stressed with too much information, just put your phone off, this may help,” Dr Lee Sze Chet of Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang told FMT.
She said the spread of fake news on the pandemic was problematic, particularly those which stigmatised survivors, leading to depression, anger and self-blame.
“One way we can overcome this stigma is to stop spreading fake news and speak up against discrimination towards survivors to show our support for them,” she said.
Society, she said, should adopt a more open and positive mindset towards those who had beat the virus.
Dr Lee Sze Chet.
For those who were still being treated, Lee advised against the use of words which may give them a false sense of hope like, “don’t worry, you will be fine” or “there is nothing to be afraid of”.
“Instead, use more appropriate words like, ‘this is difficult but I believe in you’ or ‘what you are feeling now is important, so express them and don’t deny these feelings’,” she said.
She also encouraged Covid-19 survivors to reduce stress by keeping in touch with their loved ones through video calls,
eating healthy and engaging in their favourite activities.
Those who are feeling stressed out, she said, can reach out to her team through Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang’s Facebook page or contact the Sabah Health Department’s mental health and psychosocial support unit in each district.
She said there are also NGO and government helplines which provide assistance, including Befrienders (WhatsApp 016-8036945), Kawan Bah (012-7753020), Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-2615999) and the CovidCares line for frontliners (013-5494690).
