Interview with Kevin Beauvais on the Future of Tourism & Hospitality in Southeast Asia

Interview with Kevin Beauvais on the Future of Tourism & Hospitality in Southeast Asia

As mentioned in our previous blog post (which you can read here), Thailand has done a stellar job at containing #covid19, but now it’s time to think about what’s going to happen next. As 30% of Thailand’s GDP depends on tourism, everyone is wondering when tourists will be back. Below is our our interview with Kevin Beauvais, CEO and Founder of InVision Hospitality, on the future of hospitality and tourism.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What’s your background?
I have been in the hospitality industry for more than 35 years, starting as a part-time van driver with Marriott International. My wife, Therese, and I arrived in Thailand in 1997. Prior to starting InVision Hospitality 13 years ago, I served as Thailand Country Manager for Marriott, overseeing the expansion of the brand in Thailand. I celebrated 25 years of service with this hospitality powerhouse and will be forever grateful of the teachings and foundation it provided me. I moved on in 2003, to become Chief Operating Officer for Minor hotel group. During this time, I oversaw the development and expansion of Anantara hotels in Thailand and the Maldives, as well as the Mandara Spa division (now Anantara Spa). I served on both the Board of Directors for Minor International PCL and Rajadamri Hotel PCL, intimately involved in the design development and opening of the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai.

What are your thoughts on the way Thailand has handled the pandemic?
On the global bell curve for overall handling of the coronavirus, Thailand has done well in these unprecedented times. There are many dissenting voices and different points of view on what should or should not have been done, but this was an extraordinary situation that was wiping out entire swathes of industry and changing minute by minute. That would be almost impossible to plan for or know what the right move should be, so I give a little slack on this. I recently read a National Geographic article highlighting Thailand as one of the countries that handled the pandemic well. For any of your interested readers, here is the link: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/look-inside-thailand-prevented-coronavirus-gaining-foothold/.

What is the current situation like at InVision Hospitality?
Honestly, we are as stressed out as everybody else. How could we not be? But, we are also steady, focusing forward and determined. The reality is that cash is king in any major downturn. Closing out year 2019 with strong profit levels has allowed us to maintain almost our entire team and therefore able to support and advise our owners as they navigate this very difficult time. Fortunately (and unfortunately), my team and I have been through many crisis’ in Thailand’s past and have learned what we need to do immediately in order to quickly adapt.

What will it take for travel to start again? How long do you think the market will take to rebound?
Unfortunately, my crystal ball is out of batteries at the moment, so I can’t foretell what will happen in the future – as much as I wish I could! A strengthening domestic and limited international arrivals is anticipated for Q4 2020. If we see 50% of the volume of 2019, that would be great. Looking forward for the whole of 2021 (assuming there is no onslaught of the virus that sets the global economy back even further), I’d be overjoyed if we could reach 70% of 2019 business levels.

How will travel change as a result of the pandemic?
Short term, there will be strong travel contractions and people will stay close to “home”, which is why all hotels are currently focused on domestic markets until international flights reopen, and travelers regain confidence in the hygiene and safety of the airline industry. What I do know, with certainty, is that we are all in this together. We need to remember this fact and help each other the best we can by remaining patient with our partner industries, the government, suppliers and colleagues as we work through the learning curve.

Will travel ever go back to normal once all this is over?
Yes. I believe in the resilience of the human spirit and our need for connectedness and desire to learn about destinations unknown. We have a need to explore and enrich ourselves with all the wonderful sights, sounds and cultures the world has to offer. I also have faith and confidence in the global scientific and medical communities that they will find a vaccine and sustainable protocol for us to remain safe and healthy in the future.

What measures are you taking for your properties to ensure guest and staff safety?

As we prepare to reopen 9 hotels and launch 4 new properties in Thailand and Vietnam, this enhancement is ongoing and multi-faceted. As I highlighted in a recent public message distributed through InVision’s website and social media, a big part of the reopening process involves complying with all government regulations, including applying for the SHA health certification and utilizing the Thai Chana QR tracking for all arrivals. We are implementing the specialized InSpired Health Promise hygiene standards and sanitation procedures to help keep our guests comfortable, healthy and safe during their stay. Additional guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) helps define our actions.

Will hotel/airline rates skyrocket once this all over (to make up for losses)?
Airline rates – yes. Low cost carriers and regional carriers will have some good opportunity here, as they will be more flexible and adaptable than the larger international carriers and struggling national carrier, Thai Airlines. Hotels will not be able to employ the same strategy. The decreased demand and oversupply in Thailand and SE Asia will keep us all carefully managing our costs, while still driving our unique selling points and offering well devised value-ads until the demand increases to previous levels that allow us to manage the rate mix more positively.

What does the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have planned for bringing back tourists?
The current domestic campaign, “Travel from Home with Amazing Thainess” is great to revive interest and encourage local travel, but the recent statement released by the TAT suggesting their future focus on predominantly high-end tourists is silly and not based in reality. Thailand is not a small island or protected nation, such as Bhutan, that can be hyper-selective in their targeted demographic. The foreign and local investment in Thailand is massive and covers all types of hotels, spas, restaurants and other tourism related industries. A balanced approach to help support ALL segments is required for sustainable growth, not only the high-end and luxury markets.

When do you think tourism will pick up for Thailand/SE Asia?
I believe we will see a slow and gradual growth in Q4 2020 that will continue steadily through 2021.

How are hotels going to cope with the loss of MICE revenue?
This is Déjà vu for Thailand and not the first time MICE has been disrupted. Although MICE business is good business when it’s “On”, but it is also a behemoth to get turned back around once it is moved elsewhere or switched “Off”. For now, the big properties who have 300-1,000 rooms will refocus on leisure business to fill up and drive revenue. This challenge is a big part of my TAT comment above, who will fill these massive properties if not busloads of midscale and 4 star tourists? Surely not a private jet with 6 luxury tourists at a time.

What advice do you have for hoteliers and people in the hospitality industry?
Stay calm, think clearly and act decisively. Keep your expectations of rate, occupancy and revenue tempered. By planning for the worst and looking at your overhead with minimum revenue levels, you will clearly see the path and know where the ‘line’ is for your business. You can survive this and you can actually thrive in the end! But it will take an internal strength and calmness that will be supported by your industry knowledge and professional experience.

Is there anything else you want to share with us?
22 years ago I thought there was no better place to be than Southeast Asia. Today, I have an equal amount of exuberance and faith in the potential for the travel and tourism recovery throughout Southeast Asia, and our dominance in it.

Thank you so much for your time and insight, Kevin! I’m sure your answers will help everyone that reads this feel confident in the future of tourism and hospitality in Southeast Asia.

Interview led by Devi Bajaj
Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge

Covid19 Response in Thailand has been Stellar, but we Must Address the Impact on #MentalHealth

Covid19 Response in Thailand has been Stellar, but we Must Address the Impact on #MentalHealth

Majority of people in Thailand have been so proud of the way our country has handled #covid19, and although credit is due where it’s deserved, there is a large issue at hand that we need to address: Mental Health. My sister (thanks Didi! To read her blog post on the issue entitled Strengthening Connections for At-Risk Women and Children during COVID-19, click here) sent me a link from NPR entitled The Cost Of Thailand’s Coronavirus Success: Despair … And Suicide, and this post will be taking excerpts from this article as I believe it is so important to address this.

“The case and death rates from COVID-19 in Thailand are among the world’s lowest, with about 3,100 confirmed cases and 58 deaths, as of Thursday (June 11th). Thai epidemiologists say their health care system — one of the finest in the world — had a major role to play. So did a strict lockdown.”

As someone who works in healthcare in Thailand, this part of the article truly does make me proud. Our medical system has never been overwhelmed as a result of covid19. This is because we are a medical tourism hub, so we always have enough beds for Thai citizens, residents, and foreigners that fly in for care and treatments. Also it is definitely true that the quickly enforced lockdown with a curfew plays a part in the success. The government shut the airports without much notice, which prohibited non-citizens to fly in. The day the lockdown happened I had several calls and messages from my colleagues and friends in neighboring countries asking if there is any way we could arrange an air ambulance or emergency flight for them to come to Bangkok because everyone knows that this is a great place to be if you need medical attention. Unfortunately for them, they had to stay where they were as our country was reserving our resources for our people.

Although covid19 was managed well, it is sadly true that “the measures to contain the virus have also caused mass disruptions as the economy came to a sudden stop. In Thailand, many of the economy’s most crucial sectors have been severely restricted by the lockdown. Construction sites, offices and massage parlors were shut down. Tourism, which makes up 20 percent of the national GDP, collapsed as international borders closed and airlines were grounded. Manufacturing makes up another 30 percent of GDP; factories were shuttered for the lockdown, and exports will struggle to rebound as global trade remains uncertain … To offset the economic hardship from the lockdown, the government launched a financial aid program in March that disburses 5,000 baht, or $150, a month for three months to people whose incomes have been affected. Nearly 29 million Thais applied. After several expansions of the fund, by mid-May, about 16 million had started receiving the monthly stipend or were close to getting it. But the delays and rejections have left some in desperation. In April, a woman drank rat poison outside the Ministry of Finance to protest the long application process to receive the 5,000 baht aid. She survived. A man who picketed to protest outside the ministry died by suicide four days later.”

Financial stress is real, and it can lead to mental health problems. There are millions of daily wage workers in Thailand, and as a result of covid19, these people were all out of jobs. In simple terms, this means they could not earn to feed their families.

This is why “Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, a psychiatrist and spokesperson for the mental health department of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, says that now the threat of COVID-19 is under control, the government is faced with a different public health challenge: “The next wave of the problem will be mental health.

Somchai Preechasilpakul, an associate professor of law at Chiang Mai University who researches the impact of government policies on the urban poor, criticized the government response for its slow disbursement – while some received the aid within a couple of weeks, others were left waiting for a month or more — and the uncertainty around who would qualify for the aid and who wouldn’t. A system that automatically distributed the 5,000 baht aid to Thai workers (and allowed those who didn’t need it to opt out), Preechasilpakul said, would have allowed more people to receive the aid more quickly. Instead, the existing system tangled millions in bureaucratic red tape, even as their bills piled up and some struggled to afford their next meals. Delays and rejections heaped stress upon uncertainty for Thailand’s poorest. He said the coronavirus response has not succeeded if people are dying by suicide. “It’s a failure of the system,” Preechasilpakul said. Preechasilpakul is a part of research team that published a report at the end of April that found that of the more than 80 suicide attempts they reviewed in April, 44 were related to hardships caused by the economic lockdown.”

I completely agree with Khun Preechasilpakul and sympathize with those affected, especially after reading this anecdote: “Apinya Thamniyon, 53, a taxi driver, sat, weary and hunched into his light blue uniform, his loose black trousers gathered around his waist. The day before, the landlord threatened his wife with eviction because they were two months behind on their rent. If he misses another payment on his taxi, that, too, will be taken away. With the city at a near standstill, he was making as little as 150 baht ($4.70) a day — far less than what he needed to cover gas, the taxi rental and basic expenses — and some days nothing at all. Before the lockdown, he could expect to make as much as 1,000 baht ($31) a day. He found out that day that his application was canceled, with no explanation, and was told to reapply.

Thailand controlled the spread of coronavirus in part because of a vast network of over 1 million village health volunteers, who went door to door, checking temperatures, dispensing public health advisories and dispelling misinformation. At night, they sewed masks and, in the mornings, distributed them to their neighbors. Now, says Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, of the mental health department, the same volunteers will get basic training to recognize stress, burnout and anxiety in their neighbors. If one of their neighbors is exhibiting signs of possible depression or dangerous suicide ideation, they will refer them to mental health nurses, social workers or the local psychiatrist, there’s at least one in each of Thailand’s provinces.

The mental health department launched a program in May to help Thai people navigate the mental health crisis. It includes a prevention plan it called the “mind vaccine,” meant to provide guidelines for communities to build mental resilience and find ways to tailor activities to their community’s challenges.

Effective approaches and activities, Chotpitayasunondh emphasized, will be different in each community in Thailand, but the program sends the message that the mental health crisis is real, and it should be faced head-on.”

I request everyone who reads this post to acknowledge that mental health is a real issue, and to take action by checking in on your loved ones including friends, family, and staff. Those that are suffering with their mental health may not know how to ask for help, so do your part by staying connected and offering support to anyone and everyone that you can.

Information Compiled by and Opinions of Devi Bajaj
Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge

Resources

Managing #Schizophrenia During #Covid19

Managing #Schizophrenia During #Covid19

In a previous post about taking care of your mental health during #covid19 (you can read that here) made me think of my sister in law. Vishalatchi Arunagiri, or as we call her, Achu, was diagnosed with #schizophrenia in 2011. She is happy to share her story to raise more awareness about #mentalillness and tell us how she has been coping with #covid19.

Before we get started on the interview, let’s look at a detailed definition of the condition by the Mayo Clinic: Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Symptoms may include:

  • These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, you think that you’re being harmed or harassed; certain gestures or comments are directed at you; you have exceptional ability or fame; another person is in love with you; or a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia.
  • These usually involve seeing or hearing things that don’t exist. Yet for the person with schizophrenia, they have the full force and impact of a normal experience. Hallucinations can be in any of the senses, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination.
  • Disorganized thinking (speech). Disorganized thinking is inferred from disorganized speech. Effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions may be partially or completely unrelated. Rarely, speech may include putting together meaningless words that can’t be understood, sometimes known as word salad.
  • Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior. This may show in a number of ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior isn’t focused on a goal, so it’s hard to do tasks. Behavior can include resistance to instructions, inappropriate or bizarre posture, a complete lack of response, or useless and excessive movement.
  • Negative symptoms. This refers to reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotion (doesn’t make eye contact, doesn’t change facial expressions or speaks in a monotone). Also, the person may lose interest in everyday activities, socially withdraw or lack the ability to experience pleasure.

Symptoms can vary in type and severity over time, with periods of worsening and remission of symptoms. Some symptoms may always be present.

Achu, can you tell us a bit about your journey with schizophrenia?
My first episode was when I moved back to Kuala Lumpur. My mind was playing games with me. Once I even got lost and a stranger picked me up and brought me home. My mom took me to a psychiatrist and we discovered that I have a mental illness. I’ve been fighting for 9 years now and although I still struggle with the illness today, I have been able to write 2 books, pieces in magazines, be interviewed for newspapers, appeared on TV, and even started my own small business in Malaysia. You can read more about my journey here.

You’ve had some great progress over the years! Can you share with us more about your business?
I have a passion for making fresh floral design, and I started lessons at Lee Flower Design Academy two years ago. I have been in competitions and I started independently selling to select customers. I would like to pursue this passion a therapy to heal my inner consciousness and find solace while creating different color combinations. I am also passionate about advocating mental health awareness. I have created Vishalatchi Floral, a social enterprise to help by using flower designs to help empower other people who have a mental illness. Mind Voice is another initiative I started to contribute to the advocacy work that I want to continue doing.

Tell us more about the advocacy work that you do.
I am a peer support leader at the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA). I created fliers to offer mental health sharing sessions open to the public. I led my first mental health talk in 2013 in General Hospital Klang. Then I shared my story in 2014 in MMHA where I’ve been a member for 6 years now. I led talks in Segi, a university in Malaysia. Furthermore, I participated in a charity dinner by MMHA to share my story. I have been interviewed by The Star Newspaper (link here) and my story is on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website (link here). I appeared once on Astro TV live in 2016 to share my story as well. I was a panel speaker at the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA) conference. I am hosting a talk on zoom this Saturday, May 2nd to have a chat about managing stress during lockdown. Contact me via Whatsapp for more information on how to join!

It’s wonderful to see your progress over the years, and I’m so glad that you are willing to share your story for further advocacy.

Now can you tell us, as someone with schizophrenia how have you been handling anxiety related to covid19?
It was scary to see the numbers increasing. I am scared of getting sick, so I keep washing my hands with soap. And at the same time, I also hear less voices. No paranoia of being kidnapped or abandoned so I feel relaxed and safe. These are the constant emotions and states of mind that I go through on a daily basis as someone with schizophrenia. During the past few weeks of when the country has been in a lockdown, I’ve had good moments and scary moments. Let me share some with you to give you an idea.

Sometimes I get scared when the phone rings and I think that maybe somebody passed away. People still walk around like normal, but I got my mask ready and I had to stay at home when my mother went for grocery shopping as only one person could go. The perks of being someone who is always paranoid is that we are always ready during a crisis. It’s been a long time since I’ve been left alone at home and it made me feel stronger.

I was relaxing on the couch waiting for my mother to come home when I began to get worried that this laziness was going to last too long, and I’ll become immune to staying at home and doing nothing. So, I started planning things to do, such as cooking, mopping, cleaning tables, washing dishes, social media, writing and watching TV. I cannot read books because the voices interrupt me.

During this COVID-19 lockdown, we have stocked up food for two weeks and medication for one month. I started having nightmares and strange dreams which would wake me up in the middle of the night. I’m scared my mother will not be around one day and I’ll be stuck alone in this country. I won’t be able to escape and save myself by going aboard. My voices told me that my family and relatives have all left. But yesterday I did a video with my family and they were all where they usually are. Same place and same country. My siblings all live abroad so it was a happy feeling talking to them. When they are so far away from home I feel worried. The COVID-19 lockdown made us all have time to speak together and through video chat, so I can see all of them, which helps with my worries. It’s important for family members to reach out to the people with a mental illness as we need each other now more than ever.

I’m glad I have my mother with me during this crisis. I would have died of boredom otherwise! I am lucky to have home cooked food and I am happy to find some work to do online with my NGO. I am confident that the virus will spread a lot more and I’m concerned that we will never be able to leave the house. What if we need food? But the government is giving money. I am happy to hear that as in crisis like this, we can’t work.

I hope people will read this story and get a small idea of the daily rollercoaster that I go through as someone who is trying to manage just like everyone else during these uncertain times, except I have voices and delusions to add a little color to these experiences!

Thank you so much for sharing Achu, I am sure this will help anyone else that’s battling #mentalillness through #covid19.

Information compiled by Devi Bajaj
Founder & Director of Enliven Concierge

Below are links related to schizophrenia and managing covid with a mental illness:

Global Distancing 5K: A Virtual Event!

Global Distancing 5K: A Virtual Event!

One of our beloved clients, Eric Lyons has started a very exciting initiative which he calls: Global Distancing 5K: A Virtual Event! The event already has people signed up from Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Canada, England, Puerto Rico and elsewhere. This is a free simultaneous event taking place on May 9th to benefit front line Covid 19 responders. Suicides are up. Domestic violence is up. Financial insecurity, worry about health of loved ones and the future outlook are causing tremendous fear & anxiety. We are looking for ways to propel this message of hope & togetherness around the country and ultimately to billions of our fellow global citizens around the world.
What is it?
A simultaneous global movement of people committed to completing a 5K on behalf of those on the front lines of the #Covid19 fight. For those who have lost someone to the virus, feel free to complete the 5K in honor of that person.

IMPORTANT: *You are encouraged to select an organization, group or person to raise support & awareness for on your own. You are more familiar with the needs in your own area. Please raise those funds and donate directly to your choice.

This event will showcase people posting live via our Facebookpage from around the world. It will also be online for you to share in the moments with people around the world. Follow our FB &IGaccounts for these details.

Why are we doing this?
In this historic time of pandemic, global isolation and economic uncertainty, the world is enduring fear & unpredictability our generation has never known. Billions of people are tired of a lack of ability to move and connect with others as they desire. Many of us have great fear over the uncertainty of our friends, family, jobs or businesses. We’re ALL ready to resume a life unafraid. We are a collective body who wants to recognize the brave who are fighting to protect us from Covid-19 and to recognize those who gave all.


Who is the 5K for?
This is a call to all of our fellow global neighbors around the world. Athlete or non-athlete. Walkers, runners, wheelchairs and anyone in between. All ages. This global gathering is for ALL who cherish life and want to share a few safe moments with others who understand what we all are enduring. Let’s erase those boundaries between us for just a moment. Sign-up and share the event with your friends and family around the world. Together we are better.

When is the event?
The run will take place May 9, 2020 at 7:30 AM central standard time zone. For a list of city start times globally click here. If unsure about the start time in your location, send us a message via our Contact Us page, Facebookor Instagram. Or go to this Time Zone website.

Where is the event?
All around the world. Your participation can take place anywhere it is safe and not against any local rules or laws governing social distancing or shelter in place. Outside the home. Park. Stairwell. Street. We have runners, walkers and bikers from every continent and need YOU to make this event complete.

How do I join the event?

  1. Register HERE
  2. Follow us on Facebook
  3. Follow us on Instagram
  4. Pick an organization, group or person to raise support, encouragement, funds for
  5. Share event website or Facebook event linkwith ALL of your friends

This event will showcase people posting live via our Facebook page from around the world. It will also be streamed online via a platform to be shared in advance of May 9th.
* More info on the Live Stream to follow *
Follow our FB&IGaccounts for details.

If you do decide to join the 5K initiative, take a photo and send it over to us (info@enlivenyou.org). We will share it with Eric and the community!

Thank you, stay safe and healthy!

Information shared by Devi Bajaj
Executive Director of Enliven Concierge

Links related to the importance of movement and exercise during covid:

Staying Healthy During #covid19: Mental Health (Part 4 of 4)

Staying Healthy During #covid19: Mental Health (Part 4 of 4)

We’re in a time that is new for everyone, and it’s natural for feelings of #anxiety to arise in this uncertain period, so we’ve decided to make the final part of the series focus on #mentalhealth. (If you missed the previous posts on this, here are links to part 1, 2, and 3.) There are a lot of articles and resources for how to keep your mind healthy and we’ve listed a few of our favorites at the bottom of this post, but in the meantime, we want to shine some light on an article that we truly think covers most bases when it comes to staying mentally healthy during #covid19.

Business Insider provides 12 ways to cope with coronavirus anxiety, according to psychologists:

  1. Know that feeling anxious about coronavirus is OK and normal. With rising death tolls, rising unemployment rates, physical isolation from loved ones, and, for many, a loss of routine and purpose, people everywhere are enduring a mental-health crisis alongside the medical one, so remember that you are not alone in having these feelings.
  2. Tell yourself something that is certain. Say something like, “I am certain that no matter what happens, we will find a way to deal with it. Or, “I am certain that I love my family and will do everything in my power to protect them.” By adding even a small element of certainty in the face of overwhelming uncertainty, you can re-establish a connection with the #presentmoment, #groundyourself, and maintain a good sense of self-control and confidence, says Natalie Dattilo, director of psychology in Brigham & Women’s Hospital‘s department of psychiatry.
  3. Limit your media exposure, especially if you struggled with anxiety before the pandemic. The World Health Organization’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has also encouraged people to check the news from reliable sources only once or twice a day.
  4. Do what you can to protect yourself and your family, including excellent hygiene and social distancing practices.Action is the antidote to anxiety, and there’s actually a lot individuals can do to protect themselves and their families. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, sanitize high-touch surfaces often, and #stayhome as much as possible.
  5. Do your part in protecting your community, whether by helping more vulnerable neighbors with groceries or simply staying home. You can also take action to help your community, whether that means helping an elderly neighbor get groceries, donating blood, or staying in even when you feel healthy and are able to go out. Because asymptomatic people can carry and spread COVID-19, “the choices you make about where you go can be the difference between life and death for someone else,” the WHO Director General said.
  6. Try to focus on what you are grateful for, not wish you would change or go away. Rather than marinating in worries that you’ll get the coronavirus, your wedding will be cancelled, or your kids will be out of school until fall, “focus on what you value and what you are grateful for.” Make a daily “gratitude list” in order to build psychological resiliency.
  7. Seek virtual help from mental-health professionals, or download a de-stressing app. Therapists are shifting their practices online, and many established virtual therapy services like Brightside and TalkSpace. There are also guided meditation apps such as Calm and Headspace, and Daylio, which helps you track your mood and daily activity so you can keep a mental-health promoting schedule.
  8. Just breathe. Psychiatrist Dr. Mimi Winsberg, the co-founder and chief medical officer of Brightside, recommends the 4-7-8 method, which can re-instill a sense of calm when you feel out of control. The method involves breathing in for four seconds, holding for seven, and exhaling for eight. But more than the particular count, what matters is that the exhale is longer than the inhale. “Lengthening the exhale emphasizes the release. You’re releasing whatever is going on and relieving stress,” says Briana Borten, clinical ayurvedic specialistand founder of The Dragontreewellness company.
  9. Attempt to maintain a routine. “Within our homes, maintaining structure and routine is critical because it reinforces order and predictability,” says Natalie Dattilo. “It’s also something over which we have control. We know that structure binds anxiety, so to the extent that we can maintain our routines, that helps.”
  10. Eat healthy, don’t smoke, and exercise when possible. Good nutrition and sufficient movement are good for both body and mind. WHO’s Tedros recommended eating “a healthy and nutritious diet, which helps your immune system to function properly. “If you can’t leave the house, find an exercise video online. Dance to music. Do some yoga, or walk up and down the stairs.” For more on this, click on parts 1, 2, and 3 of our series of staying healthy during covid19.
  11. Use the time to reach out to loved ones and reconnect with old friends. Just because you may be physically distant from other people, you can, and should, #staysociallyconnected to them. Be proactive about reaching out to others and asking how they’re doing — you’ll boost your #mentalhealth as well as theirs, since they’ll at least experience the perception of support, which research shows can #reducestress.
  12. Use the experience to reevaluate areas of your life. Use the time to reconsider how you want your lives to look after coronavirus and plan how you will work towards it.

We are aware that a twelve point list is long, but we really do agree with all the points and believe that if you try to stick to the suggestions above, that your mental health will thank you.

As promised from the first post about staying healthy during covid19, I am also going to share some ways to keep your mental health in check with local resources here in Bangkok.

The first one ties in with 1, 6, 8, and 10 from the list above, and is to follow @dini_fitmind on Instagram (link here). She offers mindfulness meditation coaching to train you on how to control your mind and become more aware of your thoughts. This type of meditation is defined as a technique to achieve a state of alert, focused relaxation by deliberately paying attention to thoughts and sensations without judgement allowing the mind to refocus on the present moment. It’s great for beginners who want to start meditating and even regular meditators who want to become more in-tune with themselves. She offers one on one and group sessions, contact her now to learn more!

The next is a few groups of people that have really come together to demonstrate #5 (doing their part in protecting the community by helping the more vulnerable population): Bangkok Charity Soldiers started as a group of friends looking to help the needy in these difficult times. They gather funds for a huge order of food, then deliver it over to struggling areas. Their efforts are focused on helping families and neighborhoods. For more on them, watch the video below:

There is also the Covid Relief BKK group on Facebook that is “coordinating a relief effort to distribute masks, soaps, hand sanitizers, and basic foodstuffs to the most vulnerable groups in Bangkok, all whilst maintaining social distancing to avoid increasing the spread of coronavirus. Covid Relief uses demographics data to identify and locate the most in-need based on age and income, ensuring their efforts are targeted and have the most impact. For every 300 baht, you can provide packages consisting of sanitation items and food supplies for a family (4 people). Requests for some or possibly all depending on donation quantities – masks – hand gels and alcohol – sanitation equipment and detergents – food supplies: canned foods, rice, fruit, eggs, raw ingredients – packaging: cloth bags – protective gear: gloves, face shields, suits. To donate items, please send to Na Cafe at Bangkok 1899. You can easily find this location on Google Maps and send via a LineMan or LalaMove. Packages will be made and delivered on Thursdays. You can coordinate with Fon who works at Na Cafe on 090-040-3335.

My husband is working with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Association Thailand to “raise money to give rice to the needy. One of the places we will be distributing is a place where my staff live. Mostly port and klong toey market workers! If you got alcohol at your wedding or any of your festivities these heroes are the ones that took it there for you. 100 Baht will help purchase 1 bag of 5kg! We are looking for 1,000 bags to help 1,000 families.” Initially, VHP will distribute 1,000 packets of rice in the month of May 2020 (every Saturday 250 packets) at several locations in Bangkok. Our efforts may go up to 5,000 packets as we move forward depending upon the situation and availability of funds to support local communities.

To donate, transfer to the following account and share the slip with us at 081-750-9088:
Account Name: Vishwa Hindu Parishad Association
Bank Name: Bangkok Bank
Account Number: 933-7-02846-9
Account Type: Savings Account

Use this time to help others, it will definitely make you feel better and support your mental health.

Written by Devi Bajaj
Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge

#EnlivenConcierge#Coronavirus#StayHome#HealthyLife#HealthyChoices#MentalHealth#Mindfulness#Meditation#CovidAnxiety#Anxiety

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