With COVID-19 sweeping the world, many of us have found ourselves confined to our homes for days or weeks on end. We can’t go to the office, we can’t gather with friends, and we can’t go out to eat.

Trips to the store have become rushed, harried affairs, and many of us are cut off from our friends, family, and colleagues.

This isolation is affecting everyone differently, but those with anxiety and depression face additional challenges. Read on to learn the signs of anxiety and depression to look for during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how you can support your employees. 

Basics of Depression

Depression is a mood disorder characterised by listlessness, hopelessness, and lethargy.

There is a common misconception that depression causes you to feel sad or that it’s the same as being “down in the dumps.” Depression can cause feelings of sadness, but more often people find that they feel numb or nothing at all during depressive episodes.

Depression may cause someone to feel more irritable and it can sometimes cause changes to a person's sleeping or eating habits.

People with depression often feel unable to tackle even the smallest tasks. They may feel guilty or worthless- even feeling guilty for being depressed.

Depression may cause people to have recurrent thoughts about death or suicide, or an urge to harm themselves. 

Basics of Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion many of us will feel throughout our lives. But anxiety disorders result in individuals experiencing unusually high levels of anxiety for extended periods of time. This can cause a variety of physical symptoms as well as impact every part of someone’s life.

If you have an anxiety disorder, you may feel restlessness or a sense of impending doom. People with anxiety might experience nausea, headaches, difficulty sleeping, or muscle tension.

They may even have panic attacks. A panic attack is a short period of intense anxiety that can cause you to gasp for air and can make your heart race. People with anxiety can experience the sense of losing control or a feeling that they're going to die. 

Dealing With Depression and Anxiety During High-Stress Times

You might not be surprised to learn that anxiety and depression tend to get worse during high-stress times. Everyone handles stress differently, and if someone has an existing mental illness, crises like the one we are currently in may worsen things.

If that person is a part of the at-risk population for COVID-19, they might also be dealing with additional stress on top of the usual distress as a result of the global pandemic.

This particular crisis also presents more of a challenge for those dealing with anxiety and depression because it has removed many of our usual coping mechanisms.

Someone might manage their mental illness by going to the gym, attending group therapy sessions, or spending time with friends. With quarantine policies shutting everything down, they might find themselves dealing with higher levels of stress and without access to their usual coping mechanisms.

Potential Impact

If an employee is dealing with depression or anxiety, the COVID-19 crisis may result in them experiencing new or different symptoms.

Your employees may find themselves worrying obsessively about themselves or a loved one contracting the disease. If they’re working in the medical field, this anxiety may be compounded by their constant exposure to COVID-19, and the reality of people dying around them every day.

If your employee is self-isolating at home, they may find themselves unable to perform basic tasks. They may sleep more or less than usual, and they might find it hard to maintain a regular schedule.

Coping With Depression and Anxiety

Even with the world on lockdown, people who are living with anxiety and depression can find new ways to cope with their condition.

Walking and yoga are both safe social distancing activities that have been shown to help with depression and anxiety. Although it isn’t a substitute for face-to-face interactions, calls and video chats with friends and family can help keep people connected while everyone is in quarantine.

Many mental health services are offering ways for patients to access care during the quarantine. Therapists are offering remote sessions, and many meditation apps are offering discounts or extended free trials.

Early Warning Signs

It can be difficult to tell if one of your employees may be developing a mood disorder, especially when  working remotely, but there are some signs you can watch out for.

If you notice any of these behaviours developing, you may want to reach out to your employee privately and check on how they’re coping with quarantine.

The biggest thing you should look out for in your employees is a major change in behaviour. For example, if a normally talkative person on your team becomes quiet or withdrawn, or if the steadfast worker starts missing meetings or turning projects in late. These may be warning signs.

Also, keep an eye on your own mental state. Even if you don’t haven’t been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, you may start to notice symptoms as quarantine continues.

How Employers Can Help

One of the best things you can do as an employer is to make sure your employees have adequate access to mental health care. This could include services provided by your EAP or directing your staff to free mental health resources which could include 24/7 phone lines for those that are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Beyond that, it’s important to treat your employees with compassion during this difficult time. Be as lenient as you can with lower productivity or increased requests for time off, and be invested in understanding the unique challenges that your employees are facing.

Checking on your employees and making sure they have the support they need during this time of crisis will help both them and your company.

Learn More About Anxiety and Depression During COVID-19

This global pandemic is resulting in hardship for many, but dealing with anxiety and depression during COVID-19 is even more challenging.

As an employer, strive to make sure your employees have the support they need, both from mental health professionals and from your company. 

If you have any questions or would like more , feel free to contact us!