South China’s Hainan Province provides 24-hour mental health services via the hotline 96363 for those who suffer from negative emotions and need help through the current Covid-19 resurgence, officials said at a press conference held by the provincial Covid-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control Headquarters on August 17.

Twelve professional counselors are available at the hotline to provide professional support to frontline medical workers, community workers, those in quarantine and others during the fight against the latest Covid-19 resurgence.

Additionally, an emergency assistance team of 52 professional psychiatrists and psychotherapists has been created to provide mental and psychological assistance for people in need at any time.

According to Yao Qiankun, an attending psychiatrist at the Hainan Province Anning Hospital, negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, panic, and helplessness, as well as physical reactions like dizziness, panic attacks, and chest pain are common, normal responses for many people during the outbreak.

To deal with these physical and mental problems, Yao proposes some self-help measures including workouts, talking with friends, playing games, mindfulness practice (make no judgment about any thoughts in your mind and just focus on your own breath for 5 to 10 minutes), musical therapy (listen to a soothing melody and imagine you are lying on the beach), and more.

If these self-help practices are not enough to alleviate your negative emotions, please call the 24-hour service hotline 96363 to seek help.