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By Lungile Matsuma 
51m ago
Johannesburg: Health workers at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic must be supported by building resilience, while students must become accustomed to online learning.
This according to clinical psychologist Dessy Tzoneva, who said that health workers should get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, exercise, and stay connected with loved ones.
“We cannot change this pandemic or make it disappear quickly, but what we can do is support our health workers in developing resilience and being able to face the challenges that surround them,” he said.
Tzoneva said that while the rest of the country was being asked to stay home, health workers were being called to the most dangerous environments.
“They may feel anxious about their health and the health of their loved ones; traumatized by what they witness on the job and the decisions they may have to make; challenged by the lack of resources they can find, and the impact this can have on their ability to stay safe, “he said.
The psychologist said that health workers would likely suffer from exhaustion from long hours of work.
“They have a lot on their plate right now, and they may be anxiously waiting for more to come,” said Tzoneva.
He encouraged students who were dealing with great uncertainty about their future to navigate new ways of learning online.
“In our country, many students are also not in a position to access online learning, which makes the challenges of this pandemic even greater for them,” said Tzoneva.
She said that those who were nearing the end of their studies with current and anticipated financial difficulties may be anxious.
“And these are just some of the battles the students face,” said Tzoneva.
She said that some of the ways students can take care of their mental health in these unprecedented times is to move, which she said could be accomplished by jumping rope, dancing, jumping and flexing, and following home workouts on YouTube.
“Exercise really helps us feel better,” said Tzoneva.
The star
* For the latest on the Covid-19 outbreak, visit the IOL #Coronavirus trend page
** If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, call the 24-hour government hotline at 0800 029 999 or go to SA Coronavirus for more information.
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