Managing mental health during grey winter months — and the COVID-19 pandemic

(Photo – Chad Klassen / CFJC Today)

KAMLOOPS — It was a slow spring for Corrinna Douglas’ counselling schedule but, by the time fall arrived, therapy bookings began to fill up.

“I’d say September-to-October, there was a huge increase in people reaching out for support,” she tells CFJC Today. “I think now we are definitely seeing a lot more people opening up and reaching out — which is beautiful because we all have mental wellness and at times we struggle with it.”

While many people have been able to spend more time with family or re-organize their priorities, Douglas says others have found the lack of in-person contact extremely difficult.

“I think a lot of people are also in this position where they’re actually realizing that they’ve maybe been impacted with some sadness or some worries for a long time, and it’s just becomes a greater concern for them with the isolation.”

Douglas says the end of summer brought an influx of clients to her practice, CorDiscovery Counselling — the largest demographic being young adults who felt overwhelmed with loneliness. Given the global health crisis, it’s normal to have those feelings, but Douglas says there are ways to keep your mind and spirit from getting stuck in a depressed state.

“We want people to stay physically distant but we want people to stay socially connected. So reach out to people. And when we reach out to people not only does it help that person we’re reaching out to, but it actually also makes us feel good.”

According to Douglas, an effective strategy to avoid prolonged periods of depression is to find ways to feel gratitude and focus on what you have instead of what was lost.

Now ten months into the COVID-19 pandemic, she says the feelings of isolation are joined by a level of acceptance of the situation and curiosity about the future.

“I think people are feeling hopeful,” she notes. “Still working through some of the struggles of the worry though. The thought process of, ‘What if it doesn’t work out? What happens if it fails? Am I going to get it? What’s the impact going to be if I do get the vaccination?’”

Whether it be therapy, video calls with friends and family or a physically distanced visit, Douglas says social interactions can make a huge difference for those feeling alone.

“One of the things for myself that I always like to remind people is whatever you’re going through, it’s not forever. It’s not a place that you have to be in always.”

– Written by Dylana Kneeshaw (CFJC)