Page 77 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants - October 2020

“As the most accessible of all health professionals, community pharmacists are often the first people mental health patients turn to for help and advice,” he said. Concern in isolation Dr Terry Kupers, a faculty member at the Wright Institute private graduate school in Berkeley, California, tells health and science writer Markham Heid of US health and wellness publication Elemental that everyone seems to need at least some face-to-face, interpersonal contact.1 He adds that spending too much time cooped up and cut off from other people damages a person’s mental and emotional health in predictable ways. “Being stir crazy ... I think you could argue this is a biological response that motivates us to reconnect with others, just like hunger and thirst motivates us to seek out food and water,” said Dr Kupers. BODY & SOUL 75 What does ‘stir crazy’ look like? Darren A Smith from publishing platform eLearning Industry notes the symptoms that can occur from the result of being ‘stir crazy’, or from experiencing ‘cabin fever’.2 They include: • Restlessness. • Lethargy – wanting to sleep all day. • Sadness or depression/ withdrawn. • Difficulties concentrating. • Lack of patience. • Decreased motivation. • Changes in weight. • Inability to cope with stress. Knowing the signs of someone undergoing mental stress is a crucial first step to ensuring you can provide the best help possible. Mental health tips for isolation Many groups and professional businesses are available to reach out to for anyone struggling with the effects of self-isolation. Beyond Blue has collated tips for people to manage their mental health during lockdown.3 These include: • Remind yourself that this is only temporary – to slow the spread of the virus. • Remember that the effort of staying indoors is helping other people and the community to avoid contact with the virus. • Stay connected with friends, family and colleagues via email, social media, video conferencing or telephone. • Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy. • Keep a regular sleeping routine and stick to a healthy diet. • Try to maintain physical activity. • Establish a routine as effectively as possible. • For those working from home, try to maintain a healthy balance by allocating specific work hours, taking regular breaks and, if possible, establishing a dedicated workspace. • Avoid news and social media if you find them distressing. Incorporating some of these tips into your advice to customers and patients, should you have noticed ‘stir-crazy’ symptoms, is a good way to start a conversation with them, and then to recommend further aid if necessary. Mr Tambassis reiterates the important role of pharmacy workers when it comes to addressing mental health issues. “Pharmacists \\\[and pharmacy assistants\\\] serve as a critical element in the healthcare team, working with patients to manage their conditions, often as a conduit to other services, an advocate for the person, or to lend a compassionate ear,” he said. References 1. Heid M. ‘The science of stir crazy’. Elemental, 2019. Accessed 15/9/20. elemental.medium.com/the- science-of-stir-crazy-dc8d2462aae1 2. Smith DA. ‘Cabin fever: How to overcome going ‘stir crazy’ working from home’. eLearning Industry, 2020. Accessed 15/9/20. elearningindustry.com/ cabin-fever-overcome-stir-crazy-working-from-home 3. Beyond Blue. ‘Top tips for looking after your mental health while self-isolating’. Beyond Blue, 2020. Accessed 15/9/20. coronavirus. beyondblue.org.au/managing-my-daily-life/ coping-with-isolation-and-being-at-home/ managing-your-mental-health-while-in-self-isolation- or-quarantine.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqfz6BRD8AR IsAIXQCf1zbmUc3wxYzk5-yiWi2ykIRaltz6ZyLtki- H9T134EuTB6CxINrh0aAoYdEALw_wcB RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • OCT 2020