“3 weeks since I went home. I miss my daughter but I need to stay here.” - A nurse from Ahmedabad helping the patients fight coronavirus.

“My landlord has asked me to evacuate my room, he thinks I might be the carrier of the virus. I don’t know where to go” - a public cleaning servant working every day to keep the surrounding clean during the pandemic.

Be it Doctors, Nurses, Police team, Cleaning servants or any individual working as our Frontline Warriors right now; each one of them is doing their best to help us get through this unimaginable pandemic phase. But no one talks about the excessive stress and feelings of isolation these warriors face every single minute of their work.

Our Covid19 warriors are stationed at different locations, far from home. They stay away to protect their family and while helping the infected in these long working hours looking at people die or struggle to live, it genuinely gets depressive. Regardless of their efforts, often they are treated disrespectfully thinking that they might be the carriers of the virus and are a risk to the neighbors. Their orders are disobeyed, they are being attacked by a highly sensitive mob and all of these interactions make them doubt their self-worth.

These situations act as a catalyst for the growing sense of helplessness making them feel like a failure in their own eyes. Hence, it is important to address emotional and mental health issues such as loneliness and stress, anxiety & depression during such crisis, and prevent them from getting worse.

The Police force is operating 24*7 to keep us safe and the locations locked down. Doctors and nurses stay back at the hospitals to look after the infected patients. The public cleaning servants are working at even lower wages just to keep the environment safe. All of this by risking their own life and stepping into the world of virus every time they check them.

As a frontline warrior if you are going through a depressive phase this is what you need to do;

Self-care: Try to take out a few minutes to look after yourself. Find your sources of comfort e.g. quick massage in between work or taking a good soaking bath whenever you get time. Meditate, exercise or indulge in something that adds a little positivity.

Meaningful conversations: Have these with your partner, family or even an online therapist or consultant virtually with a doctor or write often to keep the thoughts from piling up in your mind. It will be helpful in distracting yourself from the negativity around.

If you know someone similar – a few tips for you to make them feel better;

Contact maintaining the social distance: Call them or get into the habit of video calling whenever possible to help them maintain the normalcy.