![Mental health during election season [Video]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fjnbz686p%2Fhioscar_production%2Fb4a667a8159f1dd6e740575e363556eb7bf48ad4-3840x2160.png%3Fw%3D3840%26fit%3Dmax%26fm%3Dwebp&w=3840&q=75)
With Election Day approaching, anxiety can become even more intense, as well as managing other difficult emotions. Your mental health, along with your health and safety, are the most important things. We’ve got some mental health resources to help take care of our Oscar members.
Watch (opens in new tab) Oscar social worker, Erica Dinwiddie, LSW, share tips for managing anxiety during election season in this “From the Frontlines” video.
Video Transcript
“Hi, I’m Erica Dinwiddie, LCSW, and I’m a social worker with Oscar.
This is a challenging time in so many ways. The U.S. - and the world - is facing a devastating virus, COVID-19. COVID-19 has upended nearly every part of our lives - whether you know someone who’s been sick or died, lost your job, are homeschooling your children, or are just generally feeling frustrated, anxious, and uncertain about the future.
Recent events have made this time particularly challenging for the Black community, and race-related trauma is another factor that can have a harmful impact on one’s mental health.
And on top of all of this, election day is fast approaching, which can mean added anxiety during an already difficult time.
Like our health, many of the issues discussed during this time are highly personal, and it’s natural to have heightened emotions over the course of the election. So, I’d like to take a moment today to share some tips and resources to help you manage your mental health during this time.
To help reduce anxiety, practice simple breathing techniques: inhale deeply, allow your stomach to expand, and count to five while you exhale. Make sure to go outside for at least 15 minutes a day. Just remember to keep at least 6 feet between you and other people at all times.