“But my advice to you is this: make sure you’re staying connected with friends and family. If you’re feeling isolated, take what can sometimes be a difficult step to reach out and maintain those important connections.”
He then outlined the benefits of putting “some structure into your day”, such as putting aside “dedicated time for housework.”
“Set yourself achievable goals. One of the simplest things you can do in the morning, and this was said to me once at a leadership seminar by someone who is a very good leader, is make your bed,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“It sounds so simple, but if you get into some structure and routine for the next two weeks while the stage four restrictions are still in place in metro Melbourne and the surrounds, those sorts of achievable goals and structure can be very important to keep you on track.”
After that, he advised to “make sure you then have some downtime … where you are doingsomething that you enjoy to do, a hobby.”
For those experiencing dark thoughts or “thinking about behaviour or doing things that may be dangerous, to yourself even”, Dr Coatsworth advised people to contact Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline or Lifeline or visit the federal government’s Head to Health digital mental health website.
“If there is a psychiatric emergency in your family, then importantly, accessing emergency department services is critical,” he said.
“So, I hope that helps over the coming weeks. It is not going to be easy.”
While “it wasn’t easy hearing about the extension of the restrictions on Sunday”, he said, “we can assure you from the federal government’s point of view that that was done by the Victorian government based on their modelling to make sure that this is the safest exit from restrictions that they can possibly do.”
The federal government has doubled the number of Medicare rebates Victorians can access for sessions with psychologists and other mental health professionals to 20 per calendar year.
While Lifeline has reported an unprecedented volume of calls from Victorians during the lockdown, data released by the Victorian coroner last month revealed there had been no increase in the number of people dying by suicide during the coronavirus pandemic.
Modelling by the Sydney Brain and Mind Institute published in May predicted a 25 per cent increase in suicides owing to COVID-19.
Numbers to call for support: Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
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