by BISMumbai Correspondent

MumbaiSalesians' Father Godfrey D'sa, Director Prafulta Psychological Wellness Centre Andheri [Mumbai], delivered 02 sessions as part of the Archdiocese of Bombay's COVID-19 YouTube video series 'Journeying Together in Faith'.

In the 1st session delivered on 08 May, Father D'Sa spoke on 'Emotional Wellness in times of COVID-19'. He shared 05 simple things that one can do during the lockdown to stay emotionally healthy. He said, "alongwith sufficient nutrition, we also need to make sure that we have the emotional strength and energy to cope with the present situation. Along with our physical immunity, we also need to ensure that our emotional immunity is strengthened, because a healthy body requires a healthy mind"

In Session 02 delivered on 15 May, Father D'Sa shared his insights on 'Domestic Violence that has increased manifold and Managing Anger', especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quoting Childline India Deputy Director who stated, how "over a period of 11 days from March 22-31 Childline received a staggering unprecedented 7,000 calls mostly from women and children for whom the lockdown had turned into a nightmare of captivity, being trapped with their abusers at home," Father D'Sa said, "it is particularly challenging to maintain our mental well-being in these difficult times, when we are afraid we attack, since fear begets anger and often anger results in violence-verbal or physical and with many other difficult emotions lurking underneath it is absolutely necessary to understand and express anger in a way that is not harmful." Using the analogy of the pressure cooker and letting out steam, Father D'Sa said, "we are experiencing a higher degree of stress and psychological discomfort. It is actually what we can change within us, inside of our skull, that can help us.