Maintaining Team

Health and Wellness in

this Time of Pandemic
DTI, Digos
September 20, 2021
1:30PM
How are you
today?
 What is HEALTH?
 Health is the combination of your physical,
mental/emotional, and social well-being.
 Your personal level of health affects everything about you.
 It affects…
 How you look
 How you feel
 How you act

 Health is a personal responsibility

3 Elements of Health
 1. Physical Health – The ability your body has, to cope with stresses of normal daily
life.
 Proper nutrition, regular physical activity, enough rest and sleep, good hygiene, regular
dental and medical checkups.

 2. Mental & Emotional Health – Includes your feelings about yourself.

 A person using his or her mind to develop thinking skills.
 A person with good mental and emotional health is in touch with their feelings and
avoid dwelling on negative thoughts.

3. Social Health – Includes the way you get along with others.
Includes…
Your ability to make and keep friends.
Work and play in cooperative ways. Seeking and lending support when necessary.
Also, communicating well and showing respect.
 A Health literate person is…..
 A critical thinker and problem solver
able to evaluate information from reliable sources before making
decisions.
 A responsible productive citizen
chooses safe, healthful, and legal behaviors that keep with family
guidelines and show respect for others and themselves.
 A self-directed learner
able to gather and use accurate, current health information throughout life.
 An effective communicator
Effective communication is the ability to express one’s knowledge,
beliefs, and the ideas in a variety of forms.
 What is stress?
 Stress is a normal response to situations
 It includes both eustress (“good” stress) and distress (“bad”
stress)
 Stress responses vary based on the person
 What does stress look like during an infectious disease
outbreak?
 Fear or worry about your own health
 Fear or worry about the health of a loved one
 Changes in sleep or eating patterns
 Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
 Worsening chronic health problems
 Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
As Of This Moment, What
Are Some Of The Causes
Of Your Stress?
 What does stress impact?
 Stress can impact your body, thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors- it can effect so much!
 Body headaches, muscle tension, chest pain, tiredness,
upset stomach, etc.
 Mood (including thoughts and feelings)- anxiety,
restlessness, lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed,
irritability or anger, sadness or depression
 Behavior changes in appetite, angry outbursts, drug or
alcohol misuse, tobacco misuse, social withdrawal,
exercising less often
So, we know we’re stressed.
Now what?
 Being in the middle of an infectious disease is
stressful for many people. The good news? We can
do things to help manage our stress.
 Each of us can take actions to help not only
manage the stress that we are experiencing, but
also to help lessen our overall stress
WHAT IS SELF-CARE
Self-Care
Defined as, “providing adequate attention to one’s own
physical and psychological wellness (Beauchamp &
Childress, 2001)

Benefits of self-care
 Increases worker effectiveness (Lee & Miller, 2013)
 Increased job satisfaction (Horstmann, 2018)
 Changes the culture of work (Lee & Miller, 2013)
Dimensions of Self-Care
Psychological
Emotional
Physical
Social
Spiritual
 Social Distancing, NOT Social Isolation

While physical/social distancing can inevitably lead to less physical

contact with friends, family and cherished relationships, it does not mean
that you have to socially isolate yourself.

Ways to stay connected:

Take walks together! The Tell others how grateful or

Use apps or programs, such as Eat meals together, either with the outdoors is not banned, and can thankful you are for them. Find
FaceTime or Zoom, to interact people you are staying at home be a great way to interact with creative ways to do this, ways in
with friends and family from afar with, or through online means others. Just make sure you which you (and others) can feel
observe the 6ft rule loved and appreciated
 Emotion regulation
Psychological
• Give attention to things that are in your control

and Emotional
Effective behavioral choices
• Set clear boundaries for your time and energy

Recognizing strength
• Positive self-talk/ affirmations

Stress management
• Deep breathing

Mindfulness
• Progressive Muscle relaxation
• Guided imagery
• Journaling

Awareness of what creates stress

Problem-solving
Physical Activity

• What can you do to help you move?

Physical activity • Be realistic and consistent

Adequate sleep • Sleep hygiene

Healthy nutrition

Prevention of illness

Intimacy
General bodily
health
 Spiritual

Meditatio
Prayer
n

Reflectio Time in
n nature
Leisure
During this uncertain time, it’s important to make sure that you are doing things that re-charge or
energize you

Find enjoyable activities that promote rest and relaxation and encourage creativity
Reading Knitting Crafts Time with a pet

Take time to find or rediscover hobbies that you enjoy

 Set Boundaries
Set boundaries with your time
• You are not obligated to give your
time limitlessly to those around you
• Read your inner cues, and know that
it is okay to set boundaries with
others in order to protect your
emotional well-being
• Surround yourself with positivity and
affirmations
Set boundaries with your space
• When we work from home, it can be
difficult to differentiate between
work and home
• Find a specific work space, separate
from your leisure spaces, and work
there
• Once you are done with work, do
something to clearly mark the end of
the day (i.e. close the door to your
work space, change your clothes, go
for a walk, etc.)
But, Self-Care takes too much time...

Progressive muscle
Square breathing takes
Prioritize Self-Care and relaxation takes about two
about 1 minute to do, and
make it part of your daily minutes, and can also be
can be done in-between
routine done in-between other tasks
other tasks and activities
and activities
Mobile Apps for Self-care
Calm Headspace Strides MyFitnessPa Grateful
l

Meditation Mindfulness Habit Tracker Health Gratitude Journal

Free Free Free Free Free

Apple and Android Apple and Android Apple Apple and Android Apple and Android
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH
A Definition

 Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which an

individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with
the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is
able to make a contribution to his or her community
(World Health Organisation).

 Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and

social wellbeing.

 It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps

determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and
make choices.
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH
SOME STATISTICS

 Long hours and the challenges of constant communication mean

Britain’s managers are facing specific mental health issues their
organisations are likely to be overlooking.

 An increased tendency to work unpaid overtime, and the ‘always on’

digital culture in workplaces, is negatively affecting managers’
wellbeing. 

 One in 10 of managers surveyed took time off work for mental

health issues in the past year.

 24% of managers have received training in mental health and

wellbeing.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH

HOW WILL COVID-19 AFFECT OUR MENTAL

HEALTH

 We do not yet know exactly what the impacts will be.

 There are many factors to consider including lockdown
and ongoing restrictions such as social distancing.
 Fear of contracting the virus or feel anxious about
family and friends or fear of losing their job.
 Many will have suffered bereavements.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH
HOW WILL COVID-19 AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH

 Early research into health impacts include:

― Fatigue
― Musculoskeletal conditions
― Poor work life balance
― Reduced exercise
― Increased substance misuse

 Employees have been reporting:

― Reduced motivation and
― Loss of purpose
― Anxiety and isolation

 Evidence from previous quarantine situations suggests there are long term
effects on mental health.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH
HOW WILL COVID-19 AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH

 A survey conducted in April 2020 of occupational health

practitioners listed several concerns of employers/customers.
 The leading concerns related to:
39% - When employees could return to work
34% - Exposure of workforce to COVID-19 infection
32% - Implementing/maintaining social distancing
18% - Mental health/stress/burnout of frontline staff
15% - Staff coping with family issues/bereavement
8% - Risk of acute stress reaction among frontline staff
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
MENTAL HEALTH
EMPLOYEES IN SELF-ISOLATION (ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE)

 Missing routine, sleeping in later and days merging into one. Need to get back
to normal.
 Feeling lonely (those that live alone).
 Cant wait to get back to work as 24/7 childcare and home schooling very
stressful.
 Feel safer at home. Some expressed concern about lack of social distancing at
work.
 Confused about whether they can leave 12 weeks isolation (those shielding).
 Completely forgotten about by their employers and only point of contact was
the Welfare Call.
 Rather work at home because as effective, if not better, use of time.
 Has been a time to catch up, relax, enjoy the weather and spend time with
family.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MENTAL
HEALTH
THE MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM
The Mental Health Continuum
 The mental health continuum is a
spectrum of mental health.

 It shows mentally healthy people on the

left end of the spectrum.

 Those with some mental issues in the

middle

 And those with mental disorders on the

right end.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH

THE MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 EMPLOYERS
RESPONSIBILIT
IES

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 EMPLOYERS
RESPONSIBILITIES
RELEVANT LEGISLATIONS
 RA 6111 Philippine Medical Care Act of 1969

 RA 11036 An Act Establishing A National

Mental Health Policy For The Purpose Of
Enhancing The Delivery Of Integrated Mental
Health Services

 RA 11058 An Act Strengthening Compliance with

Occupational Safety and Health Standards and
Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 EMPLOYERS
RESPONSIBILITIES
DUTY OF CARE

 Supporting the mental health and

wellbeing of those employees who
continue to work ‘as normal’.

 Supporting those who are working

from home.

 Maintaining contact and supporting

those who are currently furloughed or
self isolating.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

EMPLOYERS
RESPONSIBILITIES
DUTY OF CARE

 Training for managers on:

― Looking for potential signs and symptoms of

poor mental health and well-being.

― How to handle a disclosure of a mental health

problem.

 Managers do not need to be experts but need to know

how to identify and refer.

 Companies should ensure that managers are briefed

on services available.
 SUPPORTING A
RETURN TO WORK

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK

THE CHALLENGES

 The complex nature of mental health and

wellbeing means there is no single solution for
supporting a return to work.

 It is now clear that the return will be gradual and

phased with a degree of continued homeworking.

 Employees may also be working a range of shift

patterns and hours to allow for effective social
distancing.
SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK
PLANNING TO RETURN TO WORK

 Employers should consult with staff about returning to

work. This includes:

― Trade union representatives

― Employee representatives
― Health and safety representatives

 Employers should also check any agreements that they

have with a trade union or employee representatives to see
if they must formally consult.

 Employees should be ready to return to work at short

notice, but employers should be flexible where possible.
 SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK
DISCUSS PLANS WITH STAFF

 Employers and employees should talk as early as

possible about any plans to return to work. It’s a
good idea to talk about:

― When staff might return to the workplace

― How staff will travel to and from work
― How health and safety is being reviewed and
managed
― Any planned adjustments to the workplace
― Phased return to work
― Working from home arrangements

 Where possible, consult before putting plans into

writing.

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK

IF SOMEONE DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN

 Some employees might feel they do not want to go

back to work or feel unable to return yet. This might
be because they are:

― Worried about catching coronavirus

― At high risk of getting a severe illness if they
catch coronavirus
― Caring for children
― Living with someone who is shielding

 An employer should listen to any concerns staff may

have and take steps to protect everyone .

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK
POTENTIAL COMPANY INTERVENTIONS TO
CONSIDER

 Review Approach: Review current mental health services.

 Flexible Working Practices: Consider adapting current

policies for quicker decisions.

 Senior Leaders: Encourage senior team members to

include messaging about mental health and wellbeing.

 Internal Mental Health Network: Establish Champions

who can support the organisation.
 SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK
ADVICE FOR MANAGERS

 Regular Check-in meetings

 Looking for Signs

 Role Modelling

 Connecting People

 Review Workloads

 Promote Learning

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

 SUPPORTING A RETURN TO WORK
HOW TO DEAL WITH ISSUES

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the

Self Care Assessment
We are in this together!
 ANY QUESTIONS?

Coronavirus: Mental Health and Returning to the