| Roussos, Tina |
From being dumped by waves to finding shells on the beach: Rediscovering life after a mental health crisis in later life (PDF, 74.5 KB) |
Journal 33 December 2024 |
anxiety, continuum, doubling, intervention, isolation, loneliness, mental health, Moreno, sociometry |
There is a myth in the mental health field that medication is the only intervention option for older patients. The patients themselves often believe this myth. Depressed and anxious older people talk of reduced contact with friends and family, withdrawing into themselves, and being judged for not shaking off the illness. Experiencing significant losses of life partners and long friendships, and trying to cope with their mental illness, they often believe that at this time in their lives they are not going to be able to make new friendships and cannot look forward to positive experiences. I wanted to challenge this myth. |
3 |
2024-12 |
| Maher, Jane |
Beauty and the Covid Beast (PDF, 115.0 KB) |
Journal 31 December 2022 |
beauty, creativity, health, internet, isolation, love, relationship, role, spontaneity, systems theory, vulnerability |
In this moment from ‘Beautiful World Where Are You’, Sally Rooney’s characters experience reunification, they embrace, after separation, conflict, breakdown and heart break. Beauty blossoms in their embrace. Embracing has been something that the Covid 19 Pandemic required us to curtail. Hugging, kissing, touching, proximity, gathering, all required more awareness, more planning; often constraint. At times the number of minutes we spent out of home were closely clocked, the distance from home and what we could go out for were prescribed. Likewise who we could be with. Mandated lockdowns, curfews, border closures, quarantining, masks, covid safety plans; all new ways of living imposed to mitigate a health crisis that might otherwise push through the pre-existing cracks and bring on total social collapse. In this context our priorities were naturally reviewed. Where do we find beauty amongst the unwelcome messes, fears, sorrows, losses; the burdens that discriminate unfairly. There have also been new possibilities. |
4 |
2022-12 |
