Goya Dmytryshchak
Dealing with anxiety of COVID-19 and the lockdown will be explored in a series of workshops hosted by Joseph’s Corner based at Laverton.
People can attend in person with social distancing measures in place or can participate via Zoom.
Senior counsellor Heather Bunting said the unpredictability of COVID-19 had resulted in many people experiencing anxiety.
“I think what’s caused, and is causing, a lot of anxiety is the fact that the pandemic and its outcome are unknown and unknowable,“ she said.
“Most of us like predictability – we want to know that our world is going to be the same next month as it is this month, or next week as it is this week.
“But at the moment, and for the last three months, nobody has known that and nobody knows when it’s going to finish.“
Ms Bunting said job losses had also been “incredibly stressful“.
“Not everyone qualifies for JobKeeper, people have mortgages, people have things that they have to buy and do to keep alive,“ she said.
“They’ve got to buy food and they’ve got to pay their rent, and that’s all been shaken up because of the uncertainty of everything.“
She said the lockdown itself had caused isolation and loneliness for some, while families in lockdown have faced different stresses and anxiety.
“We’ve heard about situations where there is already domestic violence – that’s a very difficult place for children and people to manage when they’re all isolated,“ Ms Bunting said.
The workshops, which are free with a gold coin donation welcomed, also look at reintegrating after being isolated for weeks.
The workshops will be held at Joseph’s Corner, 13 Bellin Street, Laverton, or a link will be provided to those attending via Zoom.
RSVP to 9315 2680 or contact@josephscorner.org.au
