The Australian Psychoanalytical Society (APAS) provides the following information to assist all its members, candidates, our patients and the public at this very challenging time.

We understand the additional pressures on everyone as a result of the COVID pandemic and the need to pay attention to physical safeguards against the virus. In addition, as psychoanalysts we are particularly mindful of the disruption to our daily lives and the associated need to maintain a sense of social connectedness.

The following information is designed to assist you in general ways but also to encourage you to seek additional help if you feel you are not coping.

Vaccination Rollout Strategy :

The most important information for members and candidates at the moment is the proposed COVID vaccine rollout strategy.

Please click the following link to download the Covid-19 national rollout strategy

 

COVID-19 The facts :

The Australian Government Department of Health website is the main source of health-related information on what Australia is doing in response to this pandemic. https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019.
 Coronavirus (COVID-19) campaign resources that provide more information and tips to help you be prepared. There are also translated versions of the resources in Arabic, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Italian and Korean. For the latest information about the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak, visit the World Health Organisation (WHO).
For daily updates google ‘COVID stats Australia’ for a great source of up to date data that is graphically represented.

 

What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in humans and animals. Human coronavirus illnesses are generally mild such as the common cold.

However, some coronaviruses can cause severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which was identified in 2002, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which was identified in 2012.

What is the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

This is a new coronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. It is a new strain of coronaviruses that hasn’t previously been identified in humans. COVID-19 is closely related to SARS and in the same family of viruses as MERS.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms include shortness of breath or cough, with or without a fever. In some cases, the virus can cause severe pneumonia. From what we know now about COVID-19, the symptoms can start between 2 and 14 days from exposure to the virus.

Should I be tested if I don’t have symptoms?

No. There is no reason to be tested for COVID-19 if you do not have symptoms.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted from person to person?

Yes, COVID-19 can be spread from person to person. The virus is most likely to spread from person- to-person through:

direct close contact with a person while they are infectious

close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or

touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.

Most infections are only transmitted by people when they have symptoms. Spread of this virus from person to person is usually between close contacts. The definition of ‘close contacts’ includes those people who have been face to face with a person infected with the virus for at least 15 minutes or been in the same closed space for at least 2 hours with an infected person

What should I do if I have symptoms?

If you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 OR have travelled overseas in the past 14 days AND have respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough, with or without a fever:

In the metropolitan area, you can visit a COVID-19 Clinic for assessment.

When you practise good hygiene you:

cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
put used tissues straight into the bin
wash your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
use alcohol-based hand sanitisers
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs
clean and disinfect frequently used objects such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes
increase the amount of fresh air available by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning

Alcohol-free hand rubs have not been shown to be effective against viruses like COVID-19, and experts recommend against using them.


Older people

Elderly people are one of the most at-risk groups if they are exposed to COVID-19, but they are also vulnerable to becoming isolated during this time. Getting established online is a good way to stay connected and access services while minimising exposure and spread of COVID-19.

Mental health and COVID-19

There are mental health consequences for everyone that relate to the unpredictability and uncertainty that accompanies the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Lockdowns, social distancing and isolation all compound these effects.

It’s natural to feel a range of emotions, such as stress, worry, anxiety, boredom, or low mood. Many people feel distressed by the constant news and overwhelming amount of information about the situation.

For people with pre-existing conditions encompassing anxiety and depression these factors can exacerbate their condition.

The National Mental Health Commission has released a video addressing these issues.

The Australian Government through its website has produced some general tips worth considering for maintaining a good state of mind.
An extract of this information is also avalible.