Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer, speaks about mental health during COVID-19
Coping with COVID-19
Living through a pandemic is stressful and it is normal to feel worried or anxious. FNHA has produced a series of videos and fact sheets designed to help you support your mental health and wellness during this difficult time. These resources aim to explain the nature of the pandemic and the impact it might be having on your mental health. They also provide specific suggestions for dealing with the mental health and wellness issues raised by the pandemic.
The extremely contagious nature of COVID-19 means that we have to keep physically distant from others. But we can stay close emotionally. This is the time to lean on each other, and to reach out if we need support.
- Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic
(video, Apr. 30, 2021, 2.18 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic (video Apr. 9, 2021, 12.08 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer – The effects of the pandemic on the mental health of children, adults and elders | Anti-Indigenous racism | Hope for the future
- Coping with COVID-19 (video, Mar. 26, 2020, 1.03 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- The Overall Wellness Impact of COVID-19 (video, Sep. 11, 2020, 3.55 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- Youth and COVID-19 (video playlist, Oct. 21, 2020) – Indigenous youth in BC share messages and resources for staying well and connected
Healthy Families
- Keeping Kids Active (fact sheet) – Fun and Interactive Indoor Activities (Active Play, Build a Fort, Going on a Bear Hunt, I Spy, Puzzles, Freeze Games, Hide and Seek, Treasure Hunts, Simon Says, What's Inside the Box, My Masterpiece Collage, Create a Puppet, Make Playdough, Balancing Game, Memory Game), Importance of Balance, Structure and Routines (CBC News, Meal Time, Prayer and Time for Honouring, Bed Time), Other Helpful Links
- Parenting Children (fact sheet) – Supporting Children | Routines | Emotions | Self-Care | Comfort | Talking with Children | Family Traditions | Memories
- Parenting Youth (fact sheet) – Supporting Youth | How Youth Are Staying Connected
Kindness
- From Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness (fact sheet) – Lateral Kindness Promotes Social Harmony, Send a “Lateral Kindness Gram” to Lift Someone’s Spirits, Every Person’s Bill of Rights, Tools to Resolve Conflicts – a Checklist, Resources
- Healing in Pandemic Times: Indigenous Peoples, Stigma, and COVID-19 (video, 4.32 mins) – Indigenous Health, Northern Health, and the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH)
- Lateral Kindness and Understanding (poster) – Message from Dr. Evan Adams, Tla’amin First Nation
- Practise Lateral Kindness to Help Reduce Stigma and Fear of COVID-19 – Message from FNHA Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shannon McDonald
- Responding to Anger (fact sheet) – We Can Respond to Anger in Healthy Ways, Strategies for Coping with Anger, An Anger Management Plan
Staying Connected
- Connecting with Technology During COVID-19 (fact sheet) – How to Connect Safely, Things to Do while Connecting Virtually, Other Ways to Check In
- Connection with Culture and the Land (fact sheet) – Connection with Culture, Connection with the Land, Indigenous Resources
- The Importance of Staying Connected During the Pandemic (video, Apr. 30, 1.16 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- Keeping Well and Staying Connected during COVID-19 (fact sheet) – Write Letters, Send a Gift or Meal, “Drive-By” or Physically Distanced Visits, Vision Boards, Gratitude List, Simple Things You Can Do
- Staying Connected during the Pandemic (fact sheet) – “Drawing on Indigenous strengths to stay connected and well”
- When Staying Home Is Not Safe (fact sheet) – Domestic Violence May Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Factors that Can Increase Domestic Violence, Physical Safety Is More Important than Self-Isolation, What Communities Can Do, to Report Abuse, Some Numbers to call
Being Resilient
- Coping with Grief and Loss (fact sheet) – The Five Stages of Grief, Many People Are Grieving, Healthy Coping Strategies, Denial and Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
- Domestic Violence (fact sheet) – Make a Safety Plan, Tips to Stay Safe during a Violent Incident, Tips on How to Create a Safety Plan for Your Children, More Information about Safety Plans, Get Phone Support
- Managing Anxiety (fact sheet) – Learn about Anxiety, the Anxiety Profile, Techniques for Coping with Anxiety
- Practicing Self-Compassion (fact sheet) – Providing Loving Kindness for Ourselves, A Relaxation Exercise, Start a Self-Compassion Journal, Create a Loving Kindness Phrase
- Reactions to Crisis (fact sheet) – Reactions to Crisis, Trauma, Things to Think About as You Move Forward
- Suicide: Responding and Keeping People Safe (fact sheet) – Talking about Suicide, Signs that a Person May Be Thinking about Suicide, What to Do if You’re Worried, Crisis Lines
- Techniques for Grounding (fact sheet) – The Benefits of Deep Breathing, Traditional Practices, Affirmations Are Powerful, Try One of These Affirmations
- The Medicine of Resilience (fact sheet) – A message from Dr. Shannon McDonald, FNHA Chief Medical Officer
- Trauma-Informed Yoga and Meditation (fact sheet) – What Is Mindfulness?, Yoga and Mindfulness as a Therapy for Trauma, Body Scan Meditation, Mindful Walks
- We Have So Many Strengths – (video, 7.42 mins) – Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Getting Support
