It has been an incredibly tough time these past few weeks, and it looks set to get even tougher. At times like this, we would like to extend our support to the community and ensure that you are taking care of yourselves as well as your finances.
As many of us cannot see our friends and family who would normally spot any changes in our own mental health, it is important that you are aware of it and take strides to keep on top of it.
Remember, it’s normal to feel upset, frustrated, or anxious when another lockdown is announced.
It’s important to focus on the things you can control and one of those things is your finances. You can take advantage of this time and manage your home loan by finding a lower interest rate and having lower repayments. It’s little things like this that can help you gain a little more control in these crazy times. Find what you can control and try not to worry as much about what you cannot.
Take breaks from technology and especially the news. It’s important to know what’s going on but once you have read the case numbers and any further announcements from the government, try to switch off. Avoid going onto social media and scrolling angrily through your feeds and comment sections. This is doing you no good as it can cause you greater distress than is actually necessary and can negatively affect your sleep.
Always remember you are not alone. Whether it be a friend, a partner, or a family member, call them or facetime them and let them know how you’re feeling and offer support of your own. It may be comforting to know that others close to you are feeling similar to you and together you can start to reach a solution.
And as it relates to your finances, don’t break lockdown rules as it will only extend the lockdown and cause longer financial hardship. And the fines for breaking them are simply not worth it.
If you are struggling financially, the government has announced a rise in the amount received from the Covid disaster payments. If you are a worker and have lost 20 hours or more of work, you will receive $750 a week instead of $600. If you have lost less than 20 hours of work, then you will receive $450 instead of $375. These new adjustments mean that the new amounts match the original JobKeeper scheme.
If you are struggling, please reach out to someone. The Black Dog Institute offers resources and support in regard to anxiety that is research-informed and recommended by professionals. Beyond Blue have trained counsellors that are available 24/7 on the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service and webchat service.
