Episode 34 Collective Conversations | Talking Mental Health in COVID-19 with Rae Bonney

What this episode covers

As Stage 3 restrictions take affect we check in with Rae Bonney, Integrated Wellbeing specialist on understanding stages of grief and loss that we may be feeling at this time. In todays Collective Conversation podcast, broadcaster Suzanne Jones talks to Rae about understanding our emotions and tips on keeping a routine while in isolation. Many people associate grief primarily with death and loss of significant relationships and things. During this time of extraordinary change where many freedoms are being denied, daily activities banned and isolation from others is a lifesaving necessity, you may be having difficulty coming to terms with your emotions. Becoming familiar with the process of grief may be useful in helping make sense of yours and other’s out of character behaviour. Everybody is experiencing some kind of loss during this time, whether it’s the tangible loss of a job or security, the loss of personal freedoms, the loss of friends or loved ones when we can't see them regularly, or the loss of our mental/physical health if we become unwell. There’s little denying that recent events have affected how people are feeling and our mental health is being compromised, emotions stretched, and the sense of fear is palpable. Our ability to share our reactions to a rapidly changing world is shifting from human interaction to the endless void of social media pages. What’s difficult to track, is the emotional challenge of people living in isolation, whether it’s alone, in families or groups. We are rapidly losing touch with physical support environments to express their feelings and let off steam. The Five Stages of grief a theory was developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in1969 kübler-ross stages of grief It’s a useful model to help break down the way in which we deal with the feeling of loss and how it may relate to how you and others are coping during this period. Crisis helplines Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 224 636 Suicide Call Back Service* 1300 659 467

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