I guess when you read the title Covid and lockdown awareness you thought of Covid and lockdown it's self I guess, which is not the case. In this handout, I am writing about what the Covid and lockdown have caused and what I am writing about was the case even before Covid and lockdown, just that the amount of people who face has risen.
My point is, the length of time most people have been having to stay home and even now the lockdown has eased for many reasons, health, etc, even people haven't been out and about as much since long before lockdown and Covid. In just a month I have learned that when contacting people who feel they need a chat, they just feel they need a chat, not necessary although some people do. With Befriending, people could be wanting a chit-chat, not necessary, support with counseling, mental health, advice, and guidance, mentoring, advocacy, etc but other people may. It's very easy to think people are back to living normal lives because lockdown has eased but it's not the case, many for their own health and safety in some ways but can with some people increase risks in others such as mental health for example but is not necessary everyone, still either have to still remain the same from the start of lockdown or and not as much as other people.
Despite of the amazing job professionals do etc, not everyone faces mental health, disabilities, other problems, certain illnesses that affect everyday lives, etc that can cause people to be vunable. To empathize with how someone is feeling is not easy to understand if you haven't faced something the same or and similar to yourself.
We understand it cannot always be promised but having the understanding of what a person is going through can help even if it's just a bit. As much as professionals do the best of they can do, what they are qulifcated and trained for. Don't get me wrong I have been a client myself when facing counseling, other things, etc, and I don't have a bad word to say in the support I did receive, and most counselors, etc themselves may have faced similar things in life as their clients but if someone is facing disabilities, mental health, etc, this can make a difference to not only what support they need but how much, which can be more than what a person is feeling. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying this does not rule professionals out, etc because what one person doesn't know the other does. My point is there should be more chances if there isn't already for those with disabilities, mental health, etc to help others who face similar if not the same as them for those who would like this sort of career, which could benefit themselves as well as the person they are trying to help as much as professional counseling, etc, which also mean mentoring, advocacy, even coaching, etc. Personally, this has always been the case I guess but from what I see that we have really only become more aware during Covid and lockdown as for example mental health has increased with us having to stay at home a lot, etc. Let me give you an example!
I could have started doing Befriending at the start of lockdown, which didn't happen somehow but then I have achieved counseling and mental health certificate. During that time my own mental health had increased but most of the lockdown like us all I lived with what had then just before and during the time I was doing my mental health qualifiable, my mental health just took its troil despite myself studying at the time. Not I just cannot explain but at the time for some reason, I felt as if life wasn't worth living and I never knew why myself. Now I wonder what it was all about. I won't say I haven't felt like this before because I have in many periods of my life but I find when you start to feel better you then feel guilty as to why you felt so down without a reason to do that, I will say you have no need to feel that way but somehow when you feel as though you are in a crisis, that is how you feel at the time.
Like I said Counselors etc to does amazing jobs but I will be honest to say now just in a month doing Befriending my mental health has improved quite a bit and I hope I have helped others in the best way I can too.
