GRI Faculty Affiliate Kristen Lee Provides Guidance to Support Your Mental Health During COVID-19 | Global Resilience Institute

Did you know that The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global mental health crisis? It projects that, by the next turn of the decade in 2030, lifestyle and stress-related illness will surpass communicable diseases. During the COVID-19 global health pandemic it is easy to fall victim to the “catastrophizing” group think phenomenon and forget about techniques to stay calm and relieve anxiety.

Over the past few weeks, GRI’s faculty affiliate and Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University, Kristen Lee, has provided guidance on protecting your mental health during this uncertain time. Read her full publications and pieces she’s been featured in about COVID-19 below.

  • Can the worst of times bring out the best in us?  – “It feels like these past few weeks and months have been a big human behavior experiment. COVID-19 has entered the scene of an ecosystem that is paradoxical. Humans are capable of solidarity, kindness, wisdom, and resilience. We are also primitive creatures who hoard toilet paper, fight, point fingers, and abandon reason when we’re scared.”
  • Adjusting to life during a pandemic – “For many adjusting to the uncertainty during a pandemic is more than rolling with the punches. It’s a road to nowhere filled with a roadblock called anxiety. Dr. Kristen Lee is the lead faculty for behavioral science at Northeastern University.”
  • Fear can be contagious. Here are some ideas for keeping calm. – “Day in and day out, people are thinking about COVID-19, in part because the fear of something contagious can itself be contagious, says Kristen Lee, associate teaching professor of behavioral sciences.”
  • Combating an ‘infodemic’: When fear and false information go viral – “One thing quarantines can’t stop is the spread of false information and fear on Facebook and other popular platforms. In the world’s first social media pandemic, that presents a parallel set of challenges for citizens and leaders alike.”

Extra Resources on Mental Health from Dr. Lee: