The Check-In: Daybreak says transitioning “back to normal” might be challenging for some
Daybreak Activity Centre says that the path to green might be more of a rocky path for people with mental health challenges.
Executive Director Melody Petlock spent the pandemic adapting programming to suit provincial restrictions, including Zoom meetings or visiting isolated members in their driveways with six feet of distance between them.
Some members, says Petlock, found the shift to digital engagement more beneficial when it came to accessing mental health care or regular check-ups with their general practitioner.
On top of that, some members struggled with social situations before the pandemic, and might need more time to readapt to an increasingly social environment.
“We’re looking at developing some some sort of mental health education around adapting to things being opened up again, because it can get quite comfy to stay home and to not have to be very social,” says Petlock. “I of course, have people who I’ve only been contacting with the porch visits as I call them, or by phone. So trying to bring them back into the fold… It’s certainly something we’re being cognizant of, and trying to put the supports in place for those who might struggle coming back into a fuller, higher contact lifestyle.”
She says it’s important to be patient with people struggling to return to the hustle and bustle of pre-pandemic life. Some may need to start small, instead of jumping right into a concert or a party.… Continue