Support, Self-Care and Family Health and Wellness in a Pandemic
This post is written by Tammy Whelen, Education Lead at Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin. She was invited to guest spot on the Kidzsmart blog to share her thoughts about the importance of support, self-care, and encouraging positive family health and wellness during the pandemic.
Many people told me that being a parent would be the hardest job I ever had. Boy, does that stand true today! Living through a pandemic has been challenging to say the least. I practice self-care to keep my own mental health in check, understanding that some days will be better than others. As a mental health educator, I want to offer the same for my kid’s mental well-being. Nevertheless, it has been a constant tug of war between online learning, boredom, social disconnections, social media, and gaming. How do I know if my kids are learning? How much time online is too much?
I am seeing challenges with time management, self motivation and direction, routines, and monotony. Let alone the constant distractions, lack of physical activity, and need to eat every five seconds! Although my kids do not seem to express any anxieties, I keep my ear to the ground. Every kid is different, but some things that may arise can look like reluctance to separate from parents, trouble sleeping, the need for constant reassurance, irritability, moodiness, and physical symptoms like stomach upset or headaches.
Every person has ups and downs. We are emotional beings, and experience feelings like happiness, anger, sadness, along with many others. Our health and wellness can dip every now and again. Although we would love to feel happy every moment in our lives, it’s important to remember that life comes with constant change, adversity, and challenges. We are going to have good days, and not-so-good days… That is clear. However, if our not-so-good days turn into weeks or months, we need to reach out for support.
Support and self-care look different for all of us. I always try to find a silver lining during difficult times, and although I have struggled with this pandemic myself, I can easily value the silver linings in front of me. There have never been so many free online supports, services, and programs available to Canadians. Organizations like Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) have been supporting individuals with mental health challenges for the past 100 years. Today, we have over 75 branches/regions across Canada with many adapting their programs virtually.
Aside from our formal supports (hospitals, doctors, therapy), something I want desperately for my children is the ability to bounce back from the challenges life brings. Resilience! Some things that can help: physical activity, limiting screen time, creating a routine, connecting with friends and family online, getting outdoors, journaling, and anything that brings them laughter! We always make time for family dinner, and this gives us an opportunity (although difficult at times) to talk about the everythings and nothings in the world. One thing I have learned as a parent is that children feed off our emotions. If they know we are good, they too usually follow suit. That is why it’s important for us parents to stick together, and remember to check in with them, laugh with them, and remind them that everything is going to be OK.
Tammy Whelen is no stranger to adversity. She faced a difficult battle with cancer at just 25 years old, and has experienced firsthand the anguish of losing a loved one to drugs. Since that time Tammy has dedicated herself to helping others. Whether planning fundraisers, sharing her story, or motivating others, Tammy channels her energy and passion into creating a brighter future for those who may be fighting their own tough battles.
Today, in her role as Education Lead at Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin, Tammy is focusing her efforts on helping to spread the word about the mental health issues that affect so many Canadians from all walks of life. As a Certified ASIST, safeTALK, Compassion Fatigue, Mental Health First Aid, Myers-Briggs and Mental Health Works facilitator, Tammy is determined to demystify mental illness and fight the stigma surrounding it. She understands that awareness is the key to finding solutions – not just for those struggling to live with mental illness, but for the families trying desperately to cope, as well as our society as a whole.
With a certification in Adult Education and Facilitation and Teaching Effectiveness, Tammy also shares her personal experiences which demonstrate that we each face our own challenges – big or small. She believes it is through understanding and acceptance that we can build a network of support for those in need.
