Self-compassion, emotional regulation skills important post-pandemic

KUALA LUMPUR - The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health, with some being affected more compared to others.

What could be done to help the affected individuals? Unicef Malaysia Mental Health and Psychosocial Support consultant Dr Shermaine Su Tein Sim shared that despite Malaysia transitioning to the new normal phase, the community's life could no longer be the same.

Dr Shermaine said mental health effects sustained due to the pandemic could last longer than most of the physical symptoms of the virus infection.

Therefore she contended by having self-compassion, emotional regulation skills could be developed and would be able to spread kindness to others as well.

“We use the same strategy to encourage the younger people also to take out those emotional regulation skills and one of them is called social emotional learning to enhance their mental health resilience and help their wellbeing.

“But first, we need to identify your emotion, which the technical term is called emotional labelling where you experience it so you can have a better idea on how to handle it.

“Next step is to know how to express it, you speak up by expressing your true emotions and then you will start to love yourself and be more empathetic to others,” she said during a TedxIIUM at Istac-IIUM talk titled ‘Post Pandemic: A New Dawn’.

She said it was understandable not to be comfortable to talk about emotions, specifically about negativity.

With the pandemic befalling the world, people spent more time confined at home and social learning skills were not practiced.

Nevertheless, as schools and other public places were reopened now, people were excited to craft recovery plans for their career and social life.