Sunday, May 31, 2020 Sesame Street and Social Isolation Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, your mental health will suffer when the need to be alone leads to loneliness, or when your steps to socially isolate slowly lead to emotional isolation. Now is a good time to let those you love know how much they mean to you Blogs Newsletters By Quentin Steen, Representative My wife, Tracy, and our two boys, Stratton and Dezi, and I had just finished a day of shovelling four yards of bark mulch into the planter beds surrounding our house. Sounds like a fun-filled family activity don’t you think? As I sat on my deck with drink in hand, admiring the fruits of our labour, watching people pass by, an old but familiar song from my childhood occupied my brain. If you watched Sesame Street as a child—and I’d be surprised if you hadn’t, or maybe you still do—you might remember the song “People in Your Neighborhood.” If you’ve forgotten the lyrics, let me indulge you with the chorus: Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? Say, who are the people in your neighborhood? As I watched people walk by, I began to notice how many people in my neighbourhood that I hadn't acknowledged, talked to, or even recognized before. The more I saw, the louder the song got. I couldn’t help but sit there, slowly sipping my beverage, humming its tune. Where am I going with this? Fair question. The message of social isolation has become an everyday part of our social landscape. It’s a healthy response to our current reality—and something we’ve had to learn to live with—but it has created its own set of struggles, depending on your personality type. I’m an introvert of the highest order. So, it’s fair to say that I’ve practiced some form of social isolation for most of my life. As an introvert, social isolation—being alone—is something I need to recharge my system. I’m finding it easier to cope with isolation than the members of my family who are extroverts, and who need social interaction to recharge. That said, the fact that I don’t really know who my neighbours are, or maybe even cared to as much as I should, is not about social isolation. Instead, it's more about me emotionally isolating myself from others, in whatever form or for whatever reason. If you haven't guessed by now, it's something I need to pay attention to. Social isolation is one thing, but emotional isolation is another animal. It's the isolation emotionally that's destructive to the state of our mental health. Whether you're an introvert, like me, or an extrovert like my wife, your mental health will suffer when the need to be alone leads to loneliness, or when your steps to socially isolate slowly lead to emotional isolation. So what might help you avoid this scenario? • Keep your social distancing physical, not emotional. • Tell those around you the difference they make because they are part of your life, and let them know what it is that you appreciate about them—name it! • Choose one person each day to connect with by whatever means works the best for you. • Host an online appie hour with a few friends. • Wave and say hi to your neighbours when you or they stroll by. By being purposeful about your social connections, you can help keep yourself from being emotionally isolated, which fuels anxiety and depression. As our economies slowly open up, and social distancing restrictions begin to ease, take the opportunity to also ease yourself from any emotional isolation you’ve been experiencing. Do you know the people in your neighbourhood? Now’s a good time to get out and get to know them. Have you distanced yourself emotionally from those closest to you? Now’s a good time to let them know you love them and how much they mean to you. Quentin Steen is a certified mental health first aid instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Get your BRAIN right and your MIND will follow! 4 Mental Health Resources to Help You During the Pandemic Stronger Minds features videos and quick reads from mental health experts, activities to help you gain resilience, and ask-an-expert videos in response to questions. WellCan offers free well-being resources to help Canadians develop coping strategies and build resilience to help deal with uncertainty, mental health, and substance abuse concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support provides free online resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals. CLAC is also continuing to make available to all members and their families our employment and family assistance program. If you or your loved ones are struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out for help today. You might be interested in Define Your Role to Define Your Success 14 Feb 2025 Maplecrest Employees Secure Retroactive Wage Increases with New Two-Year Contract 13 Feb 2025 Liftsafe Engineering Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Agreement 11 Feb 2025 School Bus Drivers In Fort Nelson, BC, Unanimously Ratify New Contract 11 Feb 2025