Coronavirus: How to prioritise wellbeing and mental health during covid-19 outbreak

Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the ways in which individuals are prioritising their mental health and helping others amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

This week, the World Health Organisation has released guidelines for those who feel their mental health is being negatively impacted by coronavirus. 

According to the organisation, tips for keeping one's wellbeing in mind include limiting your intake of news that causes you to feel anxious or stressed and focusing on positive stories instead. 

The health organisation also suggests changing the terms we use when referring to those impacted by Covid-19. 

Rather than referring to people with the disease as "victims" or "diseased," WHO suggests instead using terminology such as: "People who have Covid-19" or "People who are being treated for Covid-19."

By separating a person from an identity defined by the virus, it is possible to reduce the stigma around the disease. 

According to WHO, individuals in isolation are one group that may feel the impacts of the new coronavirus outbreak on their mental health the most. 

To combat potential loneliness, the organisation advises people in self-isolation or self-quarantine "stay connected and maintain your social networks".

Those in quarantine can also use QuarantineChat, a new app that aims to connect people who are quarantined. 

"It's to bring magic and serendipity to a new reality where thousands of people are stuck inside alone for the next month all over the world," the app's creators told Business Insider. 

Others, such as Gloria Gaynor, are attempting to bring humour to the situation as a way of distracting people from their fears. 

As people are encouraged to practise thorough 20-second hand-washing as a method of limiting the spread of germs, Gaynor demonstrated the effectiveness of singing her song 1978 song "I Will Survive" while washing hands. 

Celebrities including Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, who have tested positive for coronavirus, are also using the opportunity to suggest fun things for those also in quarantine to do. 

For Wilson, this meant releasing a Spotify playlist she named "Quarantunes".

On social media, people are sharing their own stories of good deeds to remind others of the importance of helping those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus, such as the elderly. 

According to professional runner Rebecca Mehra, she was recently visiting a grocery store in Oregon when an elderly woman called to her from a crack in the window of her car and asked if she would buy her groceries because she and her husband were "afraid to go in the store". 

You can read the heartwarming Twitter thread here. 

In Italy, where the virus has resulted in a nationwide lockdown, residents are keeping their spirits up from the confines of their homes by joining together in song. 

A video of the impromptu singing recorded in Siena, Tuscany went viral, with many calling it a "beautiful" act of humanity.

In addition to protecting yourself, the World Health Organisation has also shared recommendations for helping others maintain their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. 

You can read our coverage of the WHO's full list of guidelines for the general population, healthcare workers, parents or care providers for children, older adults and those in isolation below.

For more information on what exactly self-quarantining and self-isolation are, we have explained the differences between the terms, and when, if ever, the measures should be followed.