The COVID-19 pandemic is classified under a serious public and global calamity (Trisha et al., 2020). This pandemic does not only effect physical health but also exacerbates mental stress for COVID-19 patients, families, healthcare providers and the general population of a country. The consequences of the pandemic have resulted in isolation and restriction, which in turn has altered our daily life. Work disruption, employability, social gatherings and daily way of living have also been adversely impacted due to social isolation. With the practice of social isolation and social distancing our way of life has abruptly interrupted many social opportunities important to our physical and psychological health. Unpredictability through physical, social, and economic spheres without access to coping mechanisms could lead to extensive, substantial, and long-lasting mental health effects (Trisha et al., 2020). These are unprecedented times. The pandemic will create mental instability and may leave individuals susceptible to mental health issues and suicidal tendencies. Mental health effects are likely to be existent for a longer duration and peak later than the actual pandemic (Emily A Holmes et al., 2020).

Although we don’t know the exact long-term consequences of social isolation during the current pandemic, feelings of anxiety and uncertainties are common. These feelings may cause excessive distress and harm to an individual’s social and psychological functioning. Globally, the feeling of grief and loss can arise from losing a family member or friend but it can also stem from the loss of occupational and educational opportunities, recreation, liberties, and supports. Individuals are also prone to increased level of anxiety and depression during this pandemic. It is vital to promote good mental health practices during social isolation, as the practice of self-isolation can intensify feelings of loneliness, comorbidities and sense of anxiety and guilt for consuming resources. The media can also cause distress and anxiety within an individual. Although the use of technology can be transformative and constructive for mental health, statements of virulent diseases frequently involve the use of risk-elevating messages, which tends to intensify public anxiety. Social media can be a cause of high anxiety and can intensify the perception of risk with false information. Recurrent media exposure to news about an infectious virus can aggravate stress responses, magnify anxiety, and impair functioning (Emily A Holmes et al., 2020). Increased anxiety and uncertainty can lead to further media utilization and additional distress, constructing a continued cycle that can be challenging to break.

Anxiety can be powered by uncertainty and misinformation. Encouraging confidence within individuals and instilling a sense of responsibility in them on what they can do can promote their perspective and help coping with their growing anxiety. A person’s ability to endure uncertainty will in turn impact how they react and cope within their environment (Einstein, 2014). An individual’s access to their social circle and support system, such as family and friends can play a vital role in easing mental health challenges in these unprecedented times. There are several techniques that an individual can adopt based on their presenting issues. Anxiety can be significantly reduced if the individual can maintain a healthy routine. The structure must consist of a daily or weekly routine formed on their values while also integrating purposeful motor functions and also regular connection with friends and family. Moreover, as sleep functioning can easily be disrupted during the lockdown, it can have adverse effect on an individual’s mental health. This may occur due to an elevated level of stress and anxiety in an individual’s life. One of the techniques that can be used to help reduce the effects of stress on sleep functioning is scheduling in 20 minutes during the day to worry about things. During the 20 minutes allow yourself to worry and list down everything you can think of. Go through the list and write down what you can do about the worry, if anything, and write that down too. Try and achieve the tasks you need to overcome the worry. The last step is to fold the piece if paper and set it aside while acknowledging that you worked towards reducing your stressors. There are also various grounding exercises present that can help when coping with stress as it can becoming very challenging when an individual is overwhelmed by their emotions (e.g. counting to 10, deep breathing, focusing on your senses).

 It is important to build resilience and maintain hope within oneself. It is essential for an individual to limit the amount of exposure to the news and other COVID-19 associated information each day. Although it is important to be informed regarding the pandemic it is also important to note that if done in excess, it can it can exacerbate the stress and anxiety levels within an individual. Resilience and hope are important traits to develop within oneself. Resilience empowers us in developing safeguarding mechanisms in overwhelming conditions, it assists in maintaining stability within oneself during stressful periods of time. As psychologist and renowned hope researcher Charles Snyder (2002, p. 269) stated so eloquently:

A rainbow is a prism that sends shards of multicolored light in various directions. It lifts our spirits and makes us think of what is possible. Hope is the same – a personal rainbow of the mind.

Suggestions for pleasurable/meaningful home activities and tools for social interaction (Trisha et al., 2020).

Tools to Maintain Social Interaction

● Reading  favorite or uplifting books, magazines, comics, newspapers, etc.
● Make face masks to give to others
● watching “feel good” movies or show
● listening to favorite podcasts or audio books
● Cooking
● Exercising (e.g., workout classes online or video)
● Meditating or relaxing
● Make encouraging cards for individuals living in quarantined living facilities
● Call a friend or family member to check in on them
● Cleaning and organizing
● Exploring creative pursuits (e.g., writing, blogging, drawing, painting , photography, dancing, practicing instruments, Karaoke-on YouTube)
● Mail a small gift or handmade craft to a friend or family Member
● Developing new skills (e.g., Duo Lingo, sewing, gardening)
● put up signs in your windows to provide encouraging messages to others.

● Phone call/Text/Email
● Write and mail a letter to a friend or family. Member and kindly request they write you a letter back
● Virtual spiritual or religious services
● Social media applications
●Schedule quality time with individuals you live with
● Chartrooms
● Wave and smile at neighbors as they walk or drive by
● Live streaming platforms assisted
● Online gaming
● Virtual (e-) book group
● Forums
● JQBX (shared music listening)
● Netflix Party (chat over a movie)