What a challenging year we all just witnessed! With all sectors directly impacted, our social life and mental health is a no different story. Anyone who has experienced Lockdown and quarantine recently can relate to how perturbing social isolation can be.

When the news broke to me that I was to quarantine for 14 days, cornered in a tiny room, I was devastated. The distressing pang in the middle of my chest warned me that it has to be imprisonment. Who knew that these 336 hours that I was dreading would turn out to be a blessing in disguise. In the hustle-bustle of life, we seldom have time for self-reflection. It’s always about our priorities. Some turning points in life serve as a trigger to think of life’s purpose on a bigger canvas: about reaching out to others in whatever way we could. That’s when I committed myself to volunteer work to reach out to many others like me who have been victims of the Pandemic seclusion. I owe much to Here2Help community for offering a platform for many like me to be a part of a supportive community care network where we can be a source of bringing smiles.

Studies states that being socially isolated increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and a 32 percent increase in the risk of stroke. Likewise, mental health issues have increased drastically.

Owing to the nature of the pandemic, indeed, being able to physically reach out to support affectees of social isolation is not advised. The good news is that technology comes as a savior to bridge gaps. The percentage of older Canadians using video calling apps has also nearly doubled since last year.

H2H Community:  Connecting to ease Social Isolation during Covid.

Realizing the need of the hour, Here2Help community adhering to its goal of Connectivity, has contributed in various ways to reach out virtually. It aims to provide resources through social connections that will help alleviate isolation. 

• In February, it had an Expressive Arts Workshop ‘Where is my Spark,’ hosted by Heather Prost. It served as a  therapeutic session as attendees found a way to keep themselves creative while being connected to others online.
• Here2Help community regularly conducts Soma Breathwork sessions every week. Kyle Espenshade with his enthusiasm and calming tips helps participants to overcome stress and anxiety which are common effects of social isolation.  
• The Wild Men Go Zoom is another weekly event, where brotherhood is nurtured, challenges are voiced and guidance is shared.
• Nikkol Adam’s Understanding Children’s behavior was yet another enlightening session attended by many parents, facilitators, and caretakers. Fostering resiliency amongst children during the Pandemic is crucial. Nikkol’s workshop was a learning experience for many. You can check the highlights of the workshop here.
• Social isolation no way means one has to let go of community responsibility. By just going for a neighborhood walk and plogging along the way is a great means of inculcating community spirit. Here2Help Community has encouraged and participated in community clean-ups on regular basis, and you can be involved as well! You can find how we enjoyed our cleanups here.
• Our website regularly publishes blogs to keep our community and online visitors engaged. Here2Help actively participates to impart health benefits, women empowerment, workout options and, various other well-being topics through its Blogs. You can read series of blogs here.

Watch out for our more events in the Pipeline by Here2help community including Youth Mental Health and Sport workshop and many more to come. We also want to put on book clubs, Zoom storytime, Online cooking classes, Trivia nights, Knitting Club, and various other workshops as our network expands.

We would love to have you. Keeping our fingers crossed for the Pandemic to settle and Covid restrictions to relax, H2H Community aims to conduct various in-person community events too.

Here2Help is a community tech organization focused on innovative solutions to ensure the growth of resilient communities generations into the future. Are you a community-minded individual interested in sharing your skills to help empower your community? We would love to hear from you to collaborate! Contact us if you’re interested in working with us or hosting a workshop on the Here2Help platform.
We are a registered not-for-profit run entirely through volunteer support. Any contribution goes a long way in helping us reach our goal of  healing communities from within. Visit our Donate page to learn more about how your contribution can make a real difference.
Did you enjoy this article? Share it on social media to help us make a collective impact!