A message from Commissioner McCosh on mental health during COVID-19

A weekly message from Commissioner McCosh in support of the local disability community.

Dear Disability Community Members,

I hope you are all doing well, and that you’re staying safe and healthy under these most difficult circumstances.

In order to get through this pandemic, it can be helpful to try to take things one day at a time. But as our days at home turn into weeks, and possibly months, it can be difficult to stay positive. So now more than ever, it is important to pay attention to our mental health as well as our physical health.

Unfortunately, mental health gets overlooked.

We’ve heard frequent updates from officials about the steps we need to take in order to stay healthy: First and foremost, stay home. If you must go out, practice social distancing, wear a face covering, and wash your hands as soon as you come in. If you feel sick, you should self-quarantine in a separate space.

Following these directives is essential to protecting our physical health and well-being – but it can take a toll on our mental health. Some of the unintended consequences of physical isolation include anxiety, fear, and depression.

We need to take steps that will balance both our physical and our mental health needs – so here are some ideas to keep you on track, even if everything isn’t always ideal…

Make an effort to get out of bed and get dressed every morning, even if you have no place to go
Get outside for fresh air for a few minutes each day, even if you go out by yourself
Try to stick to your typical routine, even if you have to make adjustments in your schedule
Set up video chats with close friends and family, even if you don’t like being on camera
Stay updated on the latest news, even if it seems to be more bad news than good news – because…

The COVID-19 pandemic will definitely end at some point – hopefully sooner rather than later. And when everything goes back to “normal,” whatever that means, we want to ensure that everyone can resume their lives just where they left off!

In the meantime, my office is available for support. Please reach out to us if you need assistance. You can dial 311 to reach City Hall, or call us at 617-635-3682. Our email is disability@boston.gov, and the latest updates are available at Boston.gov.

Until next week, please stay informed, stay home, and stay healthy.

Sincerely,