Mental Health, the word sound scary nuh bumboclaatt don’t? Especially now seh we ina dis uncertain time wid Corona Virus all bout. But it nuh as scary as it look.
Having mental health problems doesn’t mean that you’re going crazy; neither does it mean that it’s the end of the world for you, because it’s not. According to the MayoClinic.org, “Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions which are disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behaviour.” All a dem condition ya include; depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviours.
For young persons, especially those within di Generation Z and Millennial category, dem already been going through mental health issues before Corona Virus buss di cawna, and now wid all di loneliness and di anxiety wid what a gwan in this quarantine now, it nah bumboclaat help one smaddy. According to the Business Insider, “While persons of all ages are feeling the emotional toll of the pandemic, millennials represent a particularly vulnerable group. Already suffering from declining mental health, they are now leading to what experts call a “health shock.” The new “normal” way of life under quarantine is expected to inflame the loneliness and anxiety that so many within the generation already felt.”
Wi affi face it; wi youth dem mentally fragile, but pon the flip side, dem more willing fi talk bout dem bumboclaat problem dem which is a good step in the right direction. According to MayoClinic.org, “Many people have mental health concerns sometimes, but a concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause recurring stress and affect your ability to function. A mental illness can make you miserable and can cause problems in your daily life, such as at school, work or in relationships.” For youths, these mental health issues may manifest most commonly in the forms of generalized anxiety- excessive worry about everyday matters, depression- persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or emptiness, and self-harm- cutting or suicidal thoughts/ tendencies.
Whether it is Gen Z or the Millennials, they have similar factors that contribute to their increased mental health issues during Covid 19. Job uncertainty is a big bumboclaat factor. Many of our youths are just starting out into the working world and just about to get their footing in life; starting with a job then a home then a family. That’s how it usually works but Covid just dash all dem plan deh tru di window.
Some persons just started working and then Covid hit and they are already out of a job. Now what?
Many young persons after university have student-loan debt and that alone is a reason for anxiety to take hold. There is also the stress about university courses extending-which means more fees that they can’t afford- and having courses being done online which may pose difficult for many practical courses. As the most social media-driven generation, many youths were already acutely aware of crises in the world around them. However, the ease of keeping up with everything that is happening in the world via the internet has side effects and these news broadcasts are regular sources of stress for young adults.
Young persons are also suffering from being ‘cooped up’ inside all the time due to the quarantine. They are going stir crazy not being able to go out whenever they like and see their friends and just generally enjoy their youth. They often feel anxiety and stress over the uncertainty of when they will be able to resume their lives again. There is also that ever bumboclaat looming worry about ‘what if’.
What if their parents get the Corona Virus? What if the medical bills are too much to handle? What if their parents die from the Virus? What if they can’t manage on their own? These questions also help to fuel their stress and anxiety about the future.
Some of our young people, however, regardless of all the available information about mental health issues and campaigns to ‘end the stigma’, still refuse to even acknowledge that mental illness isn’t just about mad people. Yeah mi know; even afta all di bumboclaat problem dem dem see dem fren dem go tru. They hear mental health issues and all they think is: “A mad people ting dat; n’ave nuttin fi do wid me.” In Jamaica, people quick fi mind dem business when wi hear s’mady having mental health problem. They could be experiencing the same things these people are facing, but because they don’t fully understand or don’t care to know, they will continue the cycle of ignorance. During Covid, a person could be facing job uncertainty, money problems, displaying erratic behaviour and stress all at the same time and barely managing to stay sane because they’re not dealing with the problem. But if you ask them, as far as they’re concerned, they’re fine and they don’t have mental health problems, “I just need some rest and as soon as everything goes back to normal it will be alright again.” But what if things don’t go back to normal, what then?
These young persons tend to be the ones who pick up bad coping habits. As far as they are concerned black people don’t do therapy or they don’t want anybody knowing their business and use it against them. Because of this damn bumboclaat mentality, they are unlikely to talk to persons about how they are feeling- especially some males who associate talking about feelings with homosexuality. To deal with their stress, depression or anxieties, they turn to alcohol, drugs, overeating, and oversleeping. Though, in the moment those things may help them forget, they do not solve the problems. There are long-lasting negative effects of using these negative coping mechanisms. Drinking constantly will affect a person’s liver and cause different types of cancer, doing drugs like weed and smoking will eventually start to affect a person’s lungs and other organs- again, cancer; overeating can lead to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other medical issues, and oversleeping can make it extremely difficult to revert to normalcy when the pandemic is eventually over and persons have to resume school and work. All in all, negative coping results in negative long term effects.
Now, if you wah get through dis bumboclaat pandemic wid a good head pon your shoulda, here’s the type of coping mechanisms you should really think about doing: First and foremost, if you realize you’re having any of the aforementioned mental health issues, talk to someone. Talk to your parents, friends, siblings or even other adults that you trust. No one is going to know that you are having issues if you don’t say anything. Secondly, take care of your body. According to CDC.gov, taking deep breaths, stretching, or meditating helps to ease stress. Also, persons should try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid excessive alcohol and drug use. Thirdly, maybe take some breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. Fourthly, take some time to unwind. Do somethings that you enjoy; whether it’s playing video games, reading books or mangas, watching TV, surfing the net or social media. If you find joy or a release of tension in these things, do it.
While you’re at it, I’d suggest reconnecting with your friends. Sometimes we feel a little lonely and so talking to your friends and just having a laugh may ease that feeling. Connect via Zoom, WhatsApp, or even Discord; chat while playing your online games together. Pick up some new hobbies or skills. If yuh did use to like paint or draw one time, try it again; if yuh did use to like sing or write song or wah learn fi play one instrument, try it again; if yuh did like cook, try it again; all if yuh did wah write wah book, try it now. Nuh worry, yuh ‘ave whole heap a bumboclaat time fi get it right. Enjoy yourself in this Corona time. Even for those of us who are Christians, use this time to build on your faith and get closer to God; it can’t hurt. All I’m saying is remember it’s not a death sentence if you have problems and it’s not embarrassing to admit that you do, you just have to be open to talking about them and finding a helpful solution to remedy the problem.
