We should have physical distancing and not social distancing: Salony Priya
Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti organised an E-workshop on “Mental Health Proactivity during Pandemic” on May 17, 2021. Dr. Salony Priya, Director Ummed Counselling and Consulting Services and Consultant, Centre for Cultural Research and Training (CCRT) New Delhi conducted the workshop that was attended by almost 123 participants.
During the workshop she spoke about wellness, stress management and life style changes and said that “Fear, worry and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown”, so it is normal and understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought drastic and dramatic changes into our lives”.
This she said was because of the uncertainties of unemployment, job loss, home schooling of children and lack of physical contact with our family members, friends and colleagues, for which it is important that we “Look after our mental, as well as our physical health”.
Going in detail of the necessity of good mental health, which she said needs an “Investment”, Ms. Salony Priya said that “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being and affects how we think, feel and act”, for which she stressed on what she termed as “The need of the hour for physical distancing and not social distancing”.
She further necessitated the need for mind and body connect which she said is integral to wellness and also stressed for self-management. She further advised on the need for creation of what she called a “Happiness’ that includes content, gratitude, love, empathy, satisfaction, pride and sense of achievement and called for the need to self talk and the power of meditation and mindfulness”.
Dr. Priya, further asked the participants to allow their brain to stop and pause and listen to the inner voice that will determine “How we feel; how we perceive and how we act”. This she further emphasised helps in creating a routine for oneself which copes with change to form healthy habits and reduce stress levels.
“The certainty of our routine can help manage the uncertainty that life can throw up” and thus told that “Since we may be overworked or supposedly stressed, it is important to laugh aloud, and laugh with people”.
The programme began with the welcome address by Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer GSDS.