Carrying On: Mental Health Strategies for COVID-19

Back by popular demand! Our podcast series “Carrying On: Mental Health Strategies for COVID-19” welcomes Dr. Bill Howatt back into our podcast “studio” to share some mental health insights. He’s joined by Andrew Harkness, Strategy Advisor of Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), to discuss psychological health and safety. 

We’ve all had to create and discover coping-skills. The dangers with at-risk coping skills are the frequency, duration, and intensity. These will create illusions of immediate symptom-relief. Dr. Bill Howatt encourages us to discover pro-social coping skills. Learn more in today’s episode on #MentalHealth during #COVID19

Building trust is foundational to successful human relationships, which plays a big part in successful workplaces. What is the formula for building trust? Dr. Bill Howatt shares his insights.

Let’s start to notice the opportunities associated with a “new normal”—new work, new habits, new relationships, etc. Engaging in new skills will allow you to keep pace with innovations. Dr. Bill Howatt helps us navigate the idea of a “new normal.”

It’s been approximately 100 days since onset of COVID-19. There have been so many hardships; what is the silver lining? Dr. Bill Howatt elaborates on his personal ups and downs during this pandemic and helps us understand how to find the silver lining in all of this.

While many consider worry to be exclusively negative, Dr. Bill Howatt reminds us there are some positives. Worry helps us identify when something needs to be addressed or fixed. The challenge is when it becomes overwhelming. Learn how to manage worry, and comment your thoughts below.

It’s June 2020… Some are on their way back to work, some never left (thank you, essential workers!), and some will not go back to an office. There’s all kinds of change happening so what can we expect for back to work? How do you navigate through a new process? 

Start with clarity; figure out the nuances and newness. Adhere to PPE and contribute to social conformity. Find a new normal; be patient with yourself and trust the process and ensure you’re asking questions along the way.

Diversity and inclusion are limited by many factors, one of which being implicit biases. These are unconscious and often go unnoticed within the thoughts they occupy.  Dr. Bill Howatt addresses ways to identify your own biases. Be open that you have biases. Insist on fairness and equality. Accept that you have a perspective on the world and lastly, always seek to understand.

Let’s face it: parenting is tough and even more so during a pandemic. Dr. Bill Howatt offers a set of 5 fundamentals he views as useful and effective when navigating everyday challenges faced by parents. Dr. Bill reminds us that above all, it’s essential to ensure a child’s safety and a parent’s ability to rest.

Sleep disturbance occurs as a result of risk factors (COVID-19, financial stress, troubled relationships, professional stress, etc.). Lack of sleep will lead to irritation, uncontrolled emotions, and other undesirable outcomes. Dr. Bill Howatt provides 5 easy-to-remember tricks for falling asleep. 

• Practice Sleep hygiene
• Learn a bed’s place
• End tossing and turning
• Engage in boredom
• monitor Progress