Why are Psychologists Important in the Post-COVID era?

COVID-19 pandemic halted the entire world in its tracks in March of 2020. In rising to the challenge of an epidemic, governments and health organizations pushed for lockdowns with everyone being confined to their living spaces. Social distancing and isolation helped save many lives by preventing the transfer of the novel coronavirus, but it also made hundreds of people around the globe more vulnerable to mental health issues.

The impact of this pandemic on physical health was cosmic and the impact on mental health has also been substantial. People with existing mental health disorders saw a further decline in their health and high-risk people developed these disorders through the span of the pandemic. 

As the initial shock of the pandemic begins to wind down, it’s important to tackle these issues and there need to be healthcare providers available to help those who need it. Psychologists, moreover counselling psychologists, are key in helping people manage their emotions and feelings. Psychologists can also help patients process the change the world has gone through with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted their mental wellbeing.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Briefly put, COVID-19 causes a rift between people and their ability to cope with change, especially since social isolation and lockdown policies took away many typical coping mechanisms. The reaction of people to the COVID-19 pandemic alone has ranged from feelings of hopelessness and helplessness to panic and hysteria (think toilet paper hoarding).

In addition to this, many people haven’t been able to cope how they normally would, especially those belonging to vulnerable or marginalized groups, as they often had less access to social supports. These people may indeed be at risk of developing mental health challenges and may need the help of psychologists to help them process these feelings in the post COVID era. In the meanwhile, demand on psychologists has been high with waiting lists to access services often lengthy.

The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the economy of the world, with multiple markets crashing and putting many people out of work. Joblessness further exaggerates the feeling of hopelessness and is associated with negative outcomes such as suicidal ideation, depression, stress, and anxiety. Many people put their worth and identity in their careers and when that isn’t present anymore, (alongside being locked at home giving them ample time to overthink), they experience a sense of grief and loss. It alters how they view the world and themselves.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the powerlessness people have experienced in the face of this pandemic has actually worsened in some cases by mandatory behavioural change. Examples of this are lockdowns, border closures across states and the vaccine policy being introduced. Whilst acceptance of Australia’s vaccine policy has increased statistically at least, misinformation continues to pervade people’s newsfeeds spreading fear and conspiracy-based thinking .

Some age groups and demographics are more vulnerable  to negative psychological impacts than others. These groups include high school and university students, young people who live alone, and the elderly. These are populations who may have the least amount of social support (or conversely a heavy reliance on social supports) and willingness or means to see a psychologist, important protective factors from the negative psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has already been a surge in people attempting to access psychologists since the COVID-19 pandemic and this will no doubt continue. There needs to be an equal rise in the number of therapists to help these patients come to terms with the psychosocial changes that the world has gone through. The basic human need for emotional support and processing of feelings and thoughts is a necessary component of this. Supporting patients objectively process their decision to vaccinate and the feelings that arise around an effectively mandatory vaccination program is yet another area where psychologists can help.

Guest Blog - For The Heart Cries- A commentary on suicide by Thomas Truelson

Trigger warning - Suicide. If you are thinking about suicide please contact emergency services, lifeline, or your mental health practitioner. Let someone know. The antithesis to the below is the process of reaching out and getting support outside of the secrecy that suicidal ideation commands.

If you have experienced the loss of a loved one through suicide this particular blog may be helpful for you.

 “The Warning Signs: We have all read the warning signs, the indicators and clues, of a person thinking of suicide. Unfortunately, we have recognized those signs only in hindsight - after the tragic death of our loved one.

And that is because suicide is planned silently and in secret. The art of deception - the person planning a suicide becomes an actor, skilled in delicate deception and adapting a brilliant disguise - that is well within oneself.

A person considering suicide is quite capable and inventive in expressing a genuine interest in a future they no plans of inhabiting. And when that fateful day arrives, the suicide will usually occur during the course of the person's daily and regular routine.

Suicide is difficult to prevent because the warning signs, more often than not, become visible only after the tragedy. 

The silent secret of suicide, the art of delicate deception.

As seen on PostSecret: People Don't Fake Depression, They Fake Being OK!

Remember those words.”

Reference - http://fortheheartcries.blogspot.com/

This blog was written by a person who had considered ending their life and their recovery journey. It is not intended as therapy nor a replacement for therapy.

Essential Sleep Hygiene Habits for Better Mental Health

Guest post generously submitted by Cheryl Conklin

Sleep and mental health are intricately linked. When your sleep suffers, so does your mental well-being. But mental health issues can also make it difficult to get the amount of high-quality sleep you need to feel your best. It’s a vicious cycle that can be tough to break. If you’re looking for ways to sleep better and improve your mental health, a good place to start is by adopting healthy sleep hygiene habits. Here are some resources to help you out!

Get Help for Mental Health Concerns

Mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and ADHD have been shown to cause or worsen sleeping problems.

• Working with a trained psychologist like Tristan Abba can help you get to the root of your sleep concerns and improve your mental health from the inside.

• Mindfulness meditation may be effective in mediating anxiety and symptoms of depression.

• Simply talking to a friend or loved one about your mental concerns can also help.

Practice Healthy Daytime Habits

How you spend your day can have a significant impact on your sleep quality. Healthy habits like exercising and eating clean will improve your sleep and your mental health.

• Exercise will improve your sleep by helping you burn off energy and alleviate anxiety.

• A clean, well-balanced diet can combat insomnia by ensuring your body has all the nutrients it needs to produce sleep-promoting hormones.

Avoid Stimulating Activities Before Bed

Watching exciting movies, reading stressful emails, or working out right before bed can leave your mind and body too wound up to relax.

• Try not to consume alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine in the hours right before bed.

• Stay away from digital entertainment that can overstimulate your brain — writing work emails and reading the news included!

Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule

When you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, your body will get into a rhythm. This makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling rested.

• Plan to go to bed early enough that you will get at least 7 hours of shuteye before your alarm rings.

• Create a bedtime routine that will help you get to bed on time every night.

• If you need to make up for missed sleep, don’t sleep in on the weekend. A short afternoon nap can help you recover your energy without disrupting your sleep schedule.

Nothing beats the feeling you get after a good night's sleep. What if you could wake up every morning feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day? Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or you just want to sleep your way to better health, improving your sleep should be your number one priority!

Sleep deprivation is a common symptom of many different mental disorders. If you want to talk to a professional about your mental health concerns, contact Tristan Abba today.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Medicare Update to Mental Health Care Plans

Image courtesy of UpSplash

 

Medicare have announced that available sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan have now doubled, from 10 per calendar year to 20. This change comes for all individuals eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan. I welcome this initiative at this time of year when many of my clients often run out of sessions on their initial plan.

Previously 10 sessions was the maximum amount an individual could utilise to access the Medicare rebate for, in a single calendar year. With the new increase in sessions, individuals can now return to their doctor after the 10th session to be referred for an additional 10 sessions, enabling individuals to access the Medicare rebate for up to 20 sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Care Plan.

This increase in available sessions will remain in place until at least 2022.

Psychologist versus Psychiatrist: Who should I see?

Okay, I’m totally going to put my foot in it here and offend someone I’m sure but I assure both professions that I mean no harm. I am a psychologist but I work closely with many psychiatrists and have a great deal of respect for the work that they do. Let me explain quickly what the difference is between psychologists and psychiatrists and compare the training of these professionals.

Psychiatrist: Is a medical doctor and in Australia this means they have studied a minimum six year Medical Degree. Then, in addition to this they have studied a specialised program in psychiatry beyond their hospital internship. They are highly qualified as you can tell. They can prescribe medication and for the most part hold a predominantly medical perspective of your mental health. I’m not saying that they discount psychological and psychosocial factors, they just specialise in the medical field and so they bring this philosophy to their conceptualisation of you.

Psychologist: A psychologist has completed a minimum of an undergraduate degree of four years and two years of at work training before they can become registered. Some psychologists (including myself) have completed an additional 2 years of postgraduate Masters degrees in a specific area such as clinical psychology, educational psychology, or counselling psychology. These specialisations don’t necessarily dictate the type of practice they have adopted though their training likely influences their philosophies and conceptualizations of you (and therefore also your treatment).  

So… The sorts of things you may want to ask yourself are;

Do I want a pharmacological  treatment approach to my issue I am facing (do I want to take medication?)? If so, then a psychiatrist is your best choice but it may not be your first choice. Many psychiatric illnesses can be treated with psychotherapy alone and in other cases a combination of psychotherapy and medication are a better option than just medication alone.

Do I want a diagnosis? Is so, a psychiatrist again is the practitioner you need to see to get a formal diagnosis. This said, psychologists are well trained in the DSM (diagnostic manual) and can provide you with insight and a plethora of information without formal diagnosis. Their diagnostic conceptualisation of you ultimately often guides them in their treatment approach.

What type of therapy do I need? There are lots of different therapeutic approaches. Some demonstrated as being more beneficial for certain issues people are facing. You may have heard of some. If not, check here for some examples…. Some therapists have specific additional training (beyond university) in certain treatment modalities. Find out this info…

What does the presentations does the therapist have a particular interest in? If you have an eating disorder for example, find a therapist who states they have an interest in this area. If you have been given a possible BPD diagnosis, you might like to find a practitioner with an interest in personality disorders (me for example :o))… Practitioners with particular interests keep up to date with the latest research in their area of interest and so are likely well equipped to help you with what you are dealing with.Psychology today is a great website to search for practitioners.

Now, throw all of this information on the sidelines for a minute and I’m going to tell you the single biggest contributing factor to your improvement in your mental health. What do you think it is??

Okay, well, I’m here to tell you that it is not the practitioner’s training. It is also not the type of therapeutic model they adopt. It is also not the number of years they have studied. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that the single biggest factor to your improvements in therapy is the quality of your relationship with your therapist. That’s right!!! The quality of the rapport that you have with your therapist.

So…. Research your therapist choice. Read what they have written, check out their blogs, look at their website, check out their profile photo, arrange a brief phone call, stalk them on facebook (LOL). All of the above. This will give you more knowledge than any letters they have by their name whether they are the right therapist to help you.

Peace and happy journeying….

If you’ve liked what you read here and think I may be a good fit for you, you are welcome to send me an email or call me with any questions you may have.

1% Pledge

I am so proud to announce this news…

As this new financial year begins, my business has partnered with Reachout Australia to donate 1% of our annual income to this cause.

For those of you who don't know, ReachOut is Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. It offers practical support, tools and tips help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times. #reachout 

https://about.au.reachout.com/

For anyone with a business, have you considered joining the 1% tribe? ☺️☺️

If you have a suggested charity Tristan Abba Psychologist can support next financial year please comment below.