Managing anxiety about the flu outbreak
by Public Relations
April 30, 2009 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 109 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine flu) infection in humans as of April 30. The federal government has declared a public health emergency in the United States, while the World Health Organization has signaled the likelihood of a pandemic.
The constant news reports in the preceding week have fueled a spike in anxiety among the public. Psychologists can help clients and others parse out fact from fiction and be prepared to address questions and concerns about the flu outbreak.
The Practice Directorate has posted to the APA Help Center "Managing Your Anxiety about H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)" to help people cope with flu-related fears and maintain a positive outlook. You may find it useful to direct certain clients, colleagues and others to this material.
To highlight a few helpful tips for psychologists and their clients:
Keep informed. The swine flu situation is dynamic and evolving rapidly. Gather credible information at regular intervals in order to help you and your clients get the facts and make good decisions. The CDC Web site is particularly useful, as are reports from authorities with local or state public health agencies. Also keep in mind that some people may need to be cautioned to limit the time they spend watching or listening to upsetting media coverage.
Effective medical treatments are available. Public health agencies around the globe are working to provide medical care to those who become sick. Effective antiviral medications are available. CDC is sending these medications and taking additional steps to help U.S. states and territories respond to this flu outbreak.
Stay positive. Maintaining a hopeful outlook in the face of adversity is an important factor in building and maintaining resilience. See APA's brochure, "The Road to Resilience," for additional pointers.
Hygiene helps you remain healthy. A healthy lifestyle is the best defense against threat of disease. CDC recommends that people take several basic steps to stay healthy and avoid the spread of flu. These involve frequent hand washing to protect yourself from germs, using tissues to cover your mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing, and keeping your distance from people who are sick. Some clients may benefit from reminders that a healthy body can have a positive impact on thoughts and emotions, enabling people to make better decisions and deal with uncertainty surrounding the flu outbreak.
Additional information about H1N1 flu appears in the "Guidance for Professionals" section.