‘Are granny and gramps also closed like the library?’
A simple question asked by our son’s preschooler, who had not been able to enjoy his weekly visit to the library and had not seen his grandparents for months.
The little guy knew nothing about Covid-19’s health, financial and political impact.
He knew nothing of the theory, necessity and expediency of social distancing – but he knew what it meant in his young life.
The path to the things he loves was blocked.
At the same time, ailing grandparents in hospitals and old age homes are asking: ‘Why won’t they let my children come and visit me?’
Most of us, on many levels, are feeling the mental health impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
It has turned our lifestyles upside down.
And while there may be something to be said for lockdown, such as it’s making us spend more time at home and getting our priorities right, we just don’t appreciate giving up our normal way of life.
Pre-Covid, our lives were generally orderly and predictable. And fun.
We could enter some event in our diaries and start making preparations ahead of time.
And while we can to some extent still maintain our exercise programme, and we have limited access to nature’s therapy, the impact isolation is having on our social lives is increasingly depressing.
As journalists, we are used to attending functions and being where people are gathered.
In the good old days it was almost every night that we would be covering an event, and more especially on weekends.
These functions served dual purposes.
Take for example the Rotary music trivia evenings, which not only to date have raised over a million rand for wheelchairs, but also brought people together for fun and laughter.
Similarly, other fundraising and social bonding activities such as the SANCA Walk and Cansa Relay have been forced to abort.
These are vital community get-togethers and connecting sessions.
Along with good advice on keeping people physically healthy, we need to also focus on being emotionally well as the difficulties don’t show signs of ending.
On top of not having these necessary outlets to balance the emotional scale, there are also the additional cares that are constantly gnawing away at us – and if they are not, and you are not afraid or anxious, you are not taking the pandemic seriously enough.
Will I contract the virus? What if I lose my partner or child or parent? Will my medical aid be exhausted? Will there be a bed (and oxygen) for me in hospital if I need it? Will I get the chance to say goodbye?
What if I am retrenched? Will the vaccine work: should I take it? Can I risk taking Ivermectin, if I can find it?
There is such conflicting advice and misinformation. Who and what do I believe?
If not answers, some might seek consolation and upliftment of spirit with a swig or twenty of their favourite spirit, but that too is a cause of emotional stress right now.
Someone joked in a meme: ‘Education is important, but opening the bottle stores is importanter’.
Seriously, folks, we are entering the threshold of severe, cumulative emotional stress.
Am I my brother’s keeper? You bet! We all are.
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