Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump to win the US election. Test results from around the world suggest that a coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon. Over the past month there have been more bright spots than usual in a difficult, painful year. At the same time, with the number of coronavirus deaths at their highest since May, many parts of the country still subject to severe restrictions and unemployment skyrocketing, many of us are hesitant to declare that the worst days are behind us.

So, how has this year affected our mental health? How can progressives stay well enough to fight for change? And have we forgotten how to feel hopeful?

Ayeisha is joined by researcher and author, Christine Berry and Farzana Khan, executive director and co-founder of Healing Justice London.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact the Samaritans for free at 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/

Further reading/watching from this episode:

-The Impact of COVID 19 on Disabled Women from Sisters of Frida: http://www.sisofrida.org/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-disabled-women-from-sisters-of-frida/

-Healing Justice London: https://healingjusticeldn.org/

-NEON Movement Building Webinar on the History of Mutual Aid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDZzURoU9Z8&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NEON

-Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/hope-in-the-dark-untold-histories-wild-possibilities/9781782119074

-Joanna Macy, Active Hope https://uk.bookshop.org/books/active-hope-how-to-face-the-mess-we-re-in-without-going-crazy/9781577319726

-----

Researched by Margaret Welsh. Produced by Becky Malone.

Music by Poddington Bear and Chris Zabriskie under Creative Commons license.

Enjoying the show? Tweet us your comments and questions @NEF!

The Weekly Economics Podcast is brought to you by the New Economics Foundation. Find out more at www.neweconomics.org