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I was growing up. I believe everyone deserves to feel heard, to feel worthy and valued, with no judgement. Mental health is a huge topic, particularly at the moment with physical distancing and self-isolating becoming the societal norm. How can we all work to maintain our mental health during this time? It’s so important to look after your mental wellbeing as it determines how you handle your emotions, respond to stress and also your general outlook on life. Having a healthy sense of mental wellbeing has many benefits. It lifts your mood and promotes resilience in difficult situations. Just taking a few moments for yourself each day will help you become happier and more resilient. We all know that being active for 30 minutes each day can help you improve your physical health. The great news is that taking just a few minutes to focus on mental wellbeing activities each day can lead to big improvements in your mental wellbeing, too. It only takes a few small actions, practised every day, to find a happier you. For those new to working from home, it can feel daunting and isolating for a lot of people. What’s your advice for not only surviving but also thriving at home during this difficult time? My advice is to accept and trust the unknown. Let go of fear. Simplify your life. Find ways to be grateful and embrace the simple things in your life. Use this time to reset, to heal, learn and grow. Use this time to connect with your friends and loved ones, and to learn something new or start that new project. Some people may be finding the COVID-19 situation particularly difficult if they struggle with change. What are some strategies that can help such people cope? Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t control. You can’t control the changes that are occurring with this pandemic, but what you can control are your actions. Like washing your hands regularly, social distancing, staying home, only heading out for essential items, etc. Also, my biggest tip would be to not look too far into the future, just take baby steps and take it a day at a time. Breath by breath, step by step, day by day, you can, and you will, get through this. And please, know that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. What are the typical signs that someone might be struggling mentally? How can we help to make sure our friends, family and colleagues are OK during this time? The typical signs are withdrawal, long- lasting sadness, extremely high and low moods, excessive fear, worry or anxiety, and dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits. Reach out to \[these people\] and connect. Simply ask if they’re OK. Listen to them without judgement. Let them know you’re here for them. Encourage them to seek help. Encourage them to get enough sleep, be physically healthy and eat healthy food. Discourage the use of alcohol and/or drugs as a way to manage anxiety symptoms. How can retail pharmacy assistants, who are at the frontline of healthcare, help their customers with mental health issues? Being at the frontline of the healthcare system, I imagine retail pharmacy assistants are faced with customers who have mental health concerns on a daily basis, and with this current pandemic I imagine that those numbers will rise significantly. Retail pharmacy assistants can support those people in their community by providing them with advice on medications, vitamins, essential oils and natural remedies that help to manage mental health conditions. They can also refer their customer onto a professional health expert for further advice. How can retail pharmacy assistants look after their own mental health during this time? It all stems back to my advice on self care. Self care is vital for retail pharmacy assistants during this time. Many people who are sick – who have symptoms or are in pain, etc. – go to the pharmacy first, before going to the doctor. This would be a challenging time for pharmacy assistants, but know that we appreciate, respect and thank you for being on the front line. Along with the pharmacists, cleaners in the hospitals, nurses and doctors – all of the medical profession, no matter what position you’re in at the pharmacy or the hospital – we thank you! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 19 To learn more about the Believe by Sam Frost and Stronger by Believe platforms, visit: believebysamfrost.com and strongerbybelieve.com RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAY 2020