A Kamloops councillor says he knows there will be an increase in a person’s stress levels and feeling of anxiety the longer the COVID-19 pandemic drags on.
Speaking on the NL Morning News, Mike O’Reilly says its important for people to realize that they are not alone.
“I have friends that want to be on social media all the time and I have other people that are completely unplugging. I have people that are sending me data and information and other people that don’t want anything to do with it.,” he said.
“People that are crying, people that are not crying. And all of these things are okay. You do you, and whatever works is okay.”
O’Reilly says there are many resources out there that people can access if they have questions or just need someone to talk to.
“For example, for mental health supports for BC Interior residents, it’s 1-888-353-2273. For financial support or questions of any sorts through the United Way, the phone number is just 211, and lastly the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868,” he said.
And O’Reilly noted that whatever your coping mechanism because of COVID-19, it okay to feel the way you are right now.
“The biggest concern that I have and what I have been hearing is the anxiety and the stress level that’s building among people throughout the community,” he said. “There’s more and more fear of not knowing what is going to happen or worrying about what will happen. And that is very real. That’s not a bad thing.”
Last month, the province announced $5-million in funding to expand existing mental health programs and services to support British Columbians during the pandemic. Among other groups, the Canadian Mental Health Association has revamped the supports it offers to people online.
