'Worrying is natural, but find time to be happy'

Faced with rising numbers of COVID-19 infections, it is only natural for people to feel anxious about contracting the virus, according to Jin Jin, a psychiatrist at Shanghai Mental Health Center.

Such fears can even lead to a condition described by locals as huan yang zheng, which translates as "illusionary COVID-19". Common symptoms are fatigue and a sore throat.

Jin, 34, an experienced psychiatrist and counselor who is a volunteer for a major mental health hotline in Shanghai, was infected by the virus just a week ago.

Although she has not been going to the hospital, Jin is still answering calls from the hotline and working from home.

"Society now needs doctors and nurses the most. Although I cannot work at the hospital, I should at least try my best to help more people with their problems," said Jin, adding that the number of people seeking medical assistance has risen since late last week.

"As medical professionals, we really don't have time to lie in bed and do nothing, given the current situation," Jin said.

She is not the only one who thinks this way. Several counselors at the hotline have continued to answer calls despite being sick. Jin said the number of calls received by the hotline has slowly risen from 3,000 a month, and she estimates it will handle some 4,000 calls this month.

Although the number of calls is rising, Jin said this does not indicate that panic is spreading throughout society. Instead, she is heartened by how well local people are dealing with the situation.

"It has been three years since COVID-19 emerged, and people have now accumulated sufficient knowledge about the virus," she said.

"I've found that 'mental immunity' to the virus has strengthened and that people are now much more objective about it. This could explain why we haven't seen a big surge in mental health cases this month."

However, Jin added that many people still need help.

"Some people, especially those with mental disorders such as depression or anxiety, feel desperate and think that this situation will never end. Giving these people hope and enabling them to think positively is so important for them," she said.

Counselors try to get patients with negative thoughts to see the bigger picture and be objective about life. They provide such patients with statistics that show the virus is now weaker than before, Jin said.

"As a psychiatrist who has been infected, I tell these patients that I have experienced the depression and the worries they are now going through, and that it is OK to feel worried. All of us will recover," she said.

Jin added that people often feel better after listening to her experiences.

"Worrying about things is normal, but don't spend the whole day worrying. Make sure you spend time being happy instead," she said.