23 February 2021 By Student Health ...
Youth Blog: What are the effects of social isolation on mental health and healthy relationships?
Social isolation is widely known as an important trigger of mental illness. According to the article ‘Mental health and social relationships,’ it states that “People with supportive friends and family generally have better mental and physical health than those who lack these networks.” Today we will be exploring the effects of social isolation on mental health and how we can combat some of these negative effects. The questions “Why is building healthy relationships important during this time of self-isolation?” and “How can you take care of your mental health during this time?” will be explored in this blog post.
Why is building healthy relationships important during this time of self-isolation?
Maintaining healthy relationships during this unprecedented time of self-isolation can be tricky. According to the research ‘Adults Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder During COVID-19 Pandemic’ by The Kaiser Family Foundation the findings state that “During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder…” Studies have shown that a lack of social interaction tends to increase certain bad habits like smoking and drinking among some individuals. These habits present themselves as a health risk and have been shown to increase mortality rates. In addition, self-isolation amplifies the feeling of loneliness. This feeling of loneliness easily couples itself with the feeling of depression. Continuing to facilitate social interaction during this time of self-isolation is very important. Make sure you make time in your day to keep in contact with your loved ones. It’s important to remember that they’re just a phone call or facetime away. If you're having feelings of depression please reach out to a trusted friend or family member.
How can you take care of your mental health during this time?
According to Kate Hagadone who is a Mental Health and Wellness Counselor at Michigan Medicine in the article ‘5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health During Covid-19’ she mentions that some ways to take care of your mental health are to take breaks from the news, take care of your body, and to plan creative ways to keep in contact with friends and family.
Sources (MLA 8):
Hagadone, Kate. “5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health During COVID-19.” Health & Wellness Topics, Health Tips & Disease Prevention, 6 Apr. 2020, healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/5-ways-to-manage-your-mental-health-during-covid-19.
“Mental Health and Social Relationships.” AHRC, Economic and Social Research Council , May 2013, esrc.ukri.org/news-events-and-publications/evidence-briefings/mental-health-and-social-relationships/.
Kamal , Rabah, et al. “The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use.” KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), Kaiser Permanente, 10 Feb. 2021, www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-1...
“Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health.” Online Public Health & Healthcare Administration Degrees, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine - Tulane University, 8 Dec. 2020, publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/effects-of-social-isolation-on-mental-health/.
“How to Keep Your Relationship Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/keep-...
