Just wanted to post a few thoughts...
There's certainly a hell of a lot of media attention on this issue. Even people who are normally very healthy and happy are getting worn right down into anxious messes. Their usual routines which give them meaning, purpose and keep them active have been suspended and people are not sure what to do.
I agree with Elizabeth in that it would be prudent for mental health organisations to really step up right now, but of course they're limited by their funding, and the economic fallout from this pandemic is already looking enormous. I think now is a very crucial time for people like ourselves with lived experience of mental illness to look out for our friends and family who may not be as accustomed to the solitude and isolation that many of us have grown accustomed and desensitised to. I appreciate that sounds strange, asking vulnerable members of the community to look out for the healthy, but we as individuals are in a pretty strange and unique position to relate to the struggles that they may be experiencing and to make a tangible, positive contribution to society in this way.
Some interesting perspectives on this issue that I've either heard or have occurred to me include the fact that global emissions are probably going down. Moreover, we may see a shift to more people working from home/online in the future which could lower emissions in the long-term (less commuting).
I feel strange saying this as I'm quite young, but in terms of world history the last few decades have been ones of extreme consumerism, waste and excess. An event like this pushes us to more austere living, which may harm the economy as we're not $pend $pend $pending our dollaridoos on consumer goods, but that economy is built on the illusion of endless growth which more and more countries are realising is not feasible long-term.
We've been on the cusp of a post-capitalist era for quite a while now, and I will be very interested to see how different countries seek to reform and rebuild their societies during and after covid. Already we're seeing massive economic stimulus as welfare. Just how different is this to a universal basic income? I can already sense idealogues from every corner of the political spectrum forming up ranks....
One other quick thought, I think it's amazing that some deeply religious states have put public health over religion and banned prayer in churches, mosques, etc. Where is their faith?? Really makes you think....
Felix
