DOH advises public to have coping mechanism to avoid quarantine fatigue

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said having a coping mechanism is important in order for people to avoid having "quarantine" fatigue.

"People feel restless, people feel anxious, they are irritable. Meron po silang social withdrawal, meron pong mga loss of motivation because of reduced productivity. Ito ang mga nakikita natin ngayong mga senyales," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

"We just advise people na kailangan we will have that coping mechanism. Kailangan tanggapin din sa kani-kanilang mga kalooban na talagang we will not go back to the way it used to be and we should transition to this new normal," she added.

Vergeire advised citizens to "stay connected" with other people.

"Meron hong mga tao kasi they are withdrawing from everybody because of this quarantine status that we have. Stay connected. Hindi naman po kailangang lumabas para maging connected. You can use social media to do that, always call your friends, your loved ones. And of course kailangan din po magkaroon tayo ng ibang pinagkalilibangan," the DOH spokesperson said.

"Kung dati lumalabas tayo para manood ng sine, para pumunta sa parke, marami ho tayong puwedeng gawin sa loob ng bahay to keep us busy and to keep us entertained," she added.

"Hopefully everybody gets to invite that behavior na papunta na ho tayo sa new normal and this will be part of our new normal," Vergeire said.

Vergeire made the comment as the country observes Mental Health Awareness Month this October.

Free crisis hotlines are available nationwide:

• National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-8727, (02) 7-989-8727
• Philippine Red Cross Hotline at 1158
• In-Touch Crisis Line at 8-893-7603, 0917-8001123 or 0922-8938944

—KG, GMA News