COVID -19: Stay Well in Uncertain Times

Anxiety, stress, worry, fear, uncertainty, dread, sadness, grief: these are all normal and expected responses to a massive disruptive event like a pandemic.

You might be scared of the pandemic, the coronavirus, and the COVID-19 illness. You might have a lot of uncertainty around you job and your ability to keep paying your rent and other bills. You might be in higher risk group and worry about your own health. You might worry a lot about your loved ones. You may feel overwhelmed by changes like working from home, school or childcare closures, or the closure of other services you used to rely on. This pandemic is not just about immediate physical health—it creates fears, stressors, or uncertainties around many different aspects of a person’s life.

Fear is contagious. But calmness, care, and support are also contagious. You may have a lot of complicated feelings around the coronavirus and COVID-19 illness. Denying the problem is unhelpful, and reacting with panic is also unhelpful. It may take time and practice, but finding a calmer, more realistic approach will help you take care of the things you do control and let go of the things you can’t change right now.

Life does go on. It may look a little different right now, and it may take time to go back to the way it used to be. But there’s a lot we can do right now and there is always hope for the future.

Stay Informed

We all have to step up during a pandemic because we all have a part to play in reducing the spread of the virus. It’s important that you know what must be done and how you should do it. Read more >

Take Care of Yourself

When the outside word feels scary or chaotic, many people find that it’s harder than usual to take care of their own health and well-being. However, stopping your usual healthy activities or ignoring what you need to feel well can make everything going on in the outside world feel ever worse. Read more >

Read more

• We’re here to support you – CMHA services during COVID-19 measures in BC
• Update on CMHA branch services in BC communities: March 23
• Tips for managing anxiety around COVID-19

• RESOURCES

  • 24/7 Crisis Line: 1.888.353.2273 (CARE)
  • Interior Health
  • BC Centre for Disease Control
  • Government of Canada
  • World Health Organization

  COVID-19 toll-free Information Line: 1-833-784-4397

  COVID-19 Symptom: Assessment:  8-1-1

We’ll add tips and resources in the coming days and will continue to update this information as the pandemic evolves. Please contact us at covid@cmha.bc.ca if you’d like to provide feedback.