Coronavirus and judicial wellbeing.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to deliver change and sustained uncertainty. You can access a selection of relevant and trusted resources designed to address this specific situation on the following topics.
Issues
A survey of Australian adults found that a quarter were ‘very or extremely worried’ about contracting coronavirus.
For some, this may translate into a debilitating fear which can create high levels of anxiety.
This anxiety may be exacerbated by feelings of frustration or sadness at others’ non-compliance with the coronavirus precautions.
Strategies
We can look after our mental health by developing holistic wellbeing strategies for the management of these negative emotions such as managing our self-talk, journaling, meditation, or exercise.
In some cases, it may be useful to review our ‘information diet’ and limit our news and social media consumption.
Reframing our negative thoughts into matters within or outside of our control may also be helpful to manage this anxiety.
We can seek professional help if a high level of stress persists.
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External LinkJUDICIAL LIFE
Acute mental health responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
A study of 5070 adults in Australia and their responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The results highlight the serious impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of respondents, and the need for proactive, accessible digital mental health services, particularly for those most vulnerable, including people with prior history of mental health problems.
Issues
- The experiences of Victorians during the coronavirus pandemic have been recognised as collective trauma.
- The direct trauma impact may be experienced as a feeling of grief.
- It may also have indirect impacts such as changing our relationships or how we perceive the world.
Strategies
- To manage the impacts of this collective trauma, we can seek support from others who understand and who have gone through it themselves
- Leaders can promote safety, calm, self-efficacy and community-efficacy, connectedness, and hope.
- We can also pay attention to the positives in our life, as this gives us more energy to manage the challenges, we face during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Practicing self-compassion will also allow us to develop better resilience to face these challenges
Issues
- Role clarity is a well-established cornerstone of professional wellbeing, and a protective factor against occupational hazards such as vicarious trauma and burnout.
- Judicial role clarity, and thereby the sustainability of judicial work, has historically been supported by a range of rituals and structures, from the architecture of the courtroom to the conventions of court hearings. In lockdown, the task of judging continues in the absence of many of these rituals and structures.
- In addition, working more from home has entailed a blurring of the boundaries between work and personal lives, with many judicial officers having to bring troubling case materials and evidence into their homes.
- We are experiencing changing levels of productivity and 'crisis adaptation' throughout this pandemic.
Strategies
- The consistent advice from experts is to consciously establish a new work routine - one that builds in healthy habits, regular start and finish times, and daily connection with colleagues.
- To consciously connect with ‘role competence’ and your sense of professional efficacy, incorporate a simple daily ritual of writing down what you accomplished over the course of the day, or “I have…, I did…., I can…”
- A downturn in productivity may be managed by setting some small, achievable tasks and working towards more complex tasks.
- Focusing on small organisational tasks, responsible communication and physical care will also maximise productivity in challenging circumstances.
Issues
- Virtual communication requires the brain to be ‘hyper-focused’ on verbal cues, due to the loss of non-verbal cues.
- Silence in virtual communication also increases anxiety about the interaction.
- We also experience heightened pressure to 'perform' as we feel are being watched more than during face to face communication.
- The use of technology can also affect our eyes, described as ‘Computer Vision Syndrome’. This contributes to the feeling of fatigue associate with technology.
Strategies
- Computer Vision Syndrome can be managed with the ’20-20-20’ strategy, which suggests that for every 20 minutes of screen use, users should focus on a point 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- A sector with a longer history of managing screen fatigue is Air Traffic Control. The industry standards recommend that workers do not have a period of two hours without a break of at least 30 minutes. This can be extended on a pro-rata basis (15 mins for every hour worked) if the workload pressures demand it.
- Building transitions into virtual communication to facilitate regular breaks helps manage fatigue.
Issues
- Existing relationship dynamics are becoming more significant for couples. Couples are managing less privacy, blurred boundaries and sometimes an imbalance of labour.
- Parents are also feeling pressure to protect their family and to maintain some semblance of normalcy.
- Many parents have expressed concern about the possible long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their children’s mental health.
Strategies
- Try not to pull away from relationship tensions, plan for privacy as well as some ‘tuned in’ couple time, negotiate expectations about household tasks.
- The COVID-19 pandemic provides parents with the opportunity to model resilience and teach their children about compassion for themselves and others
- This may include undertaking random acts of kindness together, such as sending messages of support to frontline workers or providing practical support to immunocompromised family members or neighbours.
- Children’s resilience will be strengthened by their social supports, especially their family, so it’s important to maintain this support throughout the pandemic
Issues
- Judicial work has always been sedentary, but the coronavirus restrictions have meant that many of us are sitting more and moving less than we would usually.
- Out usual routines and places of physical exercise may not be available to us, and incidental exercise is dramatically reduced.
- Meanwhile, we may find ourselves eating and drinking more, as other forms of entertainment, comfort and pleasure are limited.
Strategies
- The World Health Organisation recommends that over the course of a week, adults undertake 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise, as well as 3-4 minutes of light movement or stretching every few hours.
- With gyms and classes all closed, exercise videos have filled the vacuum. Here we recommend two websites offering a library of free video classes for general exercise and yoga.
Issues
- The state of the world is rapidly changing due to coronavirus and this rapid change can take a toll on our mental and physical health.
- We may be unable to be as productive and efficient under the changed working conditions as we were before.
- It is important that we take practical steps to manage our mental health so we can reduce anxiety and stay connected and grounded.
Strategies
- Practical steps can include mindfulness practice, self-compassion and other meditation practices to cultivate acceptance and feeling grounded.
Victorian judicial officers have 24/7 access to free, confidential counselling and support through the Judicial Officers Assistance Program. Call 1300 326 941.