Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Mental health is important because it can affect every aspect of your life. This includes your job, your marriage, your relationship with your family, and your general wellbeing. When you’re experiencing mental health issues, it may seem impossible to complete even the basic tasks or care for children. Mental health can also impact your physical health. For example, chronic anxiety and stress can harm your heart, particularly if you already have an illness like high blood pressure. While everyone has periods of depression or anxiety, when these escalate to the point that it is difficult to function in day-to-day life, it is time to get help from a qualified mental health counselor. Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as providing social support, can also make your community stronger. During increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you, and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated. Stress during an
infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following: Fear and worry about your health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation or job, or loss of support services
Changes in sleep or eating patterns Difficulty sleeping or concentrating Worsening of chronic health problems Worsening of mental health conditions
Increased use of tobacco and/or alcohol and other such substances
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