How to help a friend out with social distancing if you know they're struggling with mental healt

“What makes people feel safe and secure are things like having a place to live, get food for themselves and their families, and being able to go outside and socialize with people,” said Angelique Porter, a social worker and psychotherapist at a community behavioral health center in University City. “This has never happened at this scale before, so there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty. And that sense of being cut off from other people can increase your depression, anxiety and stress levels.”

Exercise, art, and a sense of routine

To protect mental health while self-quarantining, Porter has encouraged clients to get as much physical exercise of any kind as possible, like taking quiet walks around their block or doing online workouts with YouTube videos. She also pointed to meditation and mindfulness activities offered by apps as a way to lower stress.

“You can also distract yourself with an art activity, like coloring, painting, drawing, listening to music, or playing music if you play,” Porter said. “Those distractions have been proven through research to reduce stress, which in turn can boost your immune system.”

“If you know one of your friends is vulnerable to mental health stuff, reach out to them” she said. “Call them, set up FaceTimes, watch Netflix with them. Call a friend you’ve wanted to talk to but haven’t in a while, and share positive and encouraging tips, or what has worked for you.”

“Even if you feel like no one cares, push yourself to connect with other people,” she said. “Recognize that a lot of thoughts about not mattering to others are lies, challenge some of your beliefs by thinking about what you would tell a best friend who is struggling during this time to do. You would tell them that they matter, and to reach out."