Dear Students,
We have spent a special Chinese New Year fighting the coronavirus epidemic. How are you and your family doing?
The University has been working very hard to implement various measures to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Please follow the announcement on the website of UM Task Force for Pneumonia Prevention and Control and cooperate with the University’s arrangement. Meanwhile, please follow the government’s instructions: wear masks in public area, wash hands frequently, and refrain from going out in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Given the current situation, it is not uncommon to feel anxious, irritable or some other stress reactions:
- Inability to stop oneself from being exposed to related news;
- Feeing anxious, fearful and vigilant;
- Suffering from insomnia and other forms of sleep disturbance;
- Feeling depressed, low and helpless;
- Feeling angry and irritable;
- Losing interest and pleasure in everyday activities.
These are normal reactions to an abnormal event. However, we shall take better care of ourselves at a time like this in order to maintain our immune system. The following practices are generally helpful to our adjustment.
- Don’t be overwhelmed; reduce your exposure to disturbing information about the situation, and don’t spread unconfirmed news; follow the official news from the relevant authorities, such as the Macao SAR Special Webpage against Epidemics for students in Macau, and National Health Commission, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and People’s Daily for students in Mainland China;
- Maintain a regular schedule of activities, arrange time for studies, take plenty of rest, drink more water, do some indoor exercise;
- Accept your emotions as they are; observe how they arise, change and subside; allow yourself to talk about your experience and express your emotions with trusted ones;
- Learn to differentiate emotions and facts; remind yourself “These are only my emotions, they may feel real but they are not facts.”;
- Write down your experience and feelings; writing can help us consolidate our experience, regulate our emotions and provide a space for us to look at things from different perspectives;
- Regain your positive energy by doing what makes you relaxed and happy, such as reading, listening to music, chatting with friends online; taking care of ourselves is what we need to do at a time like this.
If your stress reactions persist or begin to affect your daily life, please contact the Psychological Counselling Centre of Student Affairs Office. We provide online psychological support for students in need.
- Official WeChat Account : Psychological self-help resources available
- Tel: 88224681 (counselors available from 9am to 9pm during this anti-epidemic period)
- Email: sao.counsellor@um.edu.mo (respond within 24 hours)
- Online Psychological Counselling: Counselors available from 9am to 9pm during this anti-epidemic period
 Wish everyone good health! May the epidemic be gone soon!
Psychological Counselling Centre
Student Affairs Office
PPC/SAO/024 |