The Pandemic Asked Questions – Does Mental Health Care Have The Answer?

April 12, 5 min read

Arabelle Sicardi once said, “What part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in the world this year? But most importantly: what have you found to be unkillable?” Every passing year brings its own set of daunting questions that we design for ourselves to help us figure out our minds and capabilities a little better. We ponder on our relationships, careers, mistakes and achievements. Where did I grow? Where did I fall short? What can I do better? These are critical, anxiety-provoking, albeit important questions that are an intrinsic part of our future-oriented minds.  

If one is to question how the year 2020 was different from any other, the answer would have to lie at the start of the global pandemic.  

With the coronavirus overtaking so many essential aspects of our daily lives, our need to continue evolving was threatened. Our biggest weakness was on showcase: the fear of the unknown. How could we demand better for ourselves when we were so uncertain of the mundane? The looming anxiety about the well-being of loved ones, losing our jobs or the growth of our careers left us lonely and afraid in the confines of our homes. Suddenly we weren’t the ones evaluating ourselves, the pandemic was doing it for us. It was the pandemic that demanded the extraordinary from us. It asked us if we were capable of collective social responsibility, individual strength and hopeful perseverance.  

Now, with the five-year anniversary of this virus soon approaching, the answer still remains uncertain. And that is okay. Because it is not while asking these big questions that we realise who we are, but it is our small actions that define us. In the thick of this tumultuous time, we may seem exposed and vulnerable to all kinds of anxieties and frustrations. However it is worth noting that research shows there is immense courage in embracing vulnerability, one cannot exist without the other. When we act with integrity in the face of our vulnerabilities, that is when real courage surfaces, both at an individual and societal level. So here’s a little food for thought: our vulnerability is perhaps our most prized possession, that which helps us be more courageous, supportive and emphatic. That which is ‘unkillable’, and rightly so.

Five Years Later: The Lingering Effects on Our Mental Health

Now, five years after the world shut down, many of us are still navigating the psychological aftershocks. The pandemic didn’t just disrupt routines, it rewired how we relate to stress, connection, and even our minds. Anxiety levels surged. Depression deepened for many. And burnout, once reserved for corporate life, found its way into living rooms, kitchens and even our leisure time.

For some, the hyper-vigilance never fully went away. For others, a deep existential fatigue settled in. And yet, one truth has become clear: our mental health cannot be an afterthought. It is the foundation upon which rests our relationships, our work, and our sense of meaning.

Rebuilding with Mindfulness and Self-Awareness

The good news? Healing is possible and it begins with coming back to ourselves.

Mindfulness, at its core, is the practice of paying attention, gently, without judgment. It’s taking a breath before reacting. It’s noticing how grief might still sit in the chest, or how stress knots the shoulders. It’s learning to be with discomfort rather than running from it. 

Incorporating mindfulness into daily life doesn’t have to mean hours of meditation. It can start with a few intentional breaths in the morning, a walk without your phone, or naming what you’re feeling when overwhelm arises. Mindfulness helps us regulate our nervous systems, reframe anxious thoughts, and cultivate the calm we once thought had been lost.

Stress Management Isn’t a Luxury, It’s Survival

Another lesson: we need better tools to manage stress. During the pandemic, many of us coped through overworking, numbing, or avoidance. These short-term strategies often leave long-term scars.

Instead, sustainable stress management looks like setting boundaries, rest, creative expression, time in nature, or therapy. It’s recognizing early warning signs—like irritability, forgetfulness, or sleep disturbances, and choosing self-compassion over self-criticism.

It’s okay to ask: How can I make life feel lighter today?

Resilience Isn’t Toughness, It’s Flexibility

We often mistake resilience for stoicism, but true resilience isn’t about muscling through. Rather, it’s about adapting, bending without breaking, and learning from adversity. 

Building resilience involves acknowledging your pain while trusting your ability to move through it. It’s about reconnecting with purpose, nurturing relationships, and developing the emotional literacy to say, “I’m not okay,” when needed.

And here’s the thing: we don’t have to be resilient alone.

The Power of Vulnerability and Connection

If the pandemic revealed anything, it’s that we need one another deeply. Isolation taught us the ache of disconnection, but it also reminded us of the healing that comes from being seen.

Vulnerability is the bridge. When we share our struggles with people we trust, we permit them to do the same. Intimacy deepens. Shame dissolves. Healing becomes a shared process.

So check in with your people. Be honest with yourself. Let go of the idea that you have to carry it all all alone, without breaking.

Conclusion: A Gentle Invitation to Begin Again

Five years on, the pandemic continues to echo in our minds and bodies. But we are not the same people we were in 2020. We are softer in some ways, and sharper in others. And perhaps, we are more awake to what really matters.

So here’s your invitation: slow down. Breathe deeply. Speak kindly to yourself. Reach out when it’s hard. Let vulnerability lead the way.  

The world asked hard questions, but you don’t need to have all the answers to keep going. Healing isn’t linear, and progress isn’t always loud.

You are allowed to begin again. And again, however long it takes.

Because what is unkillable in you is your hope, your vulnerability, and your courage.

Simply allowing it to grow stronger, slowly and patiently, is more than enough.