Coronavirus Special. Johann Hari: How To Stay Calm and Connected when Physically Apart #105
Johann Hari discusses how the pandemic intensifies existing psychological needs like connection and financial security. He offers insights into loneliness, post-traumatic growth, and the importance of collective action and resetting societal values during this global crisis.
Deep Dive Analysis
9 Topic Outline
Introduction to the Podcast and Current Global Situation
Understanding the Real Causes of Depression and Anxiety
Financial Insecurity as a Primary Driver of Anxiety
The Nature of Loneliness and Shared Meaning
Building Meaning from Tragedy: The Lickle Swimmers Charity
Community Action and Transformation: The VANDU Story
Post-Traumatic Growth and Shifting Societal Values
Personal Reflections on the Pandemic and Collective Action
Practical Steps for Mental Health and Societal Change
6 Key Concepts
Natural Psychological Needs
Beyond physical needs like food and shelter, humans have inherent psychological needs such as belonging, purpose, stability, security, and a clear future. A lack of these can significantly contribute to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Loneliness (as defined by Cassiopo)
Loneliness is not merely about the quantity of people one interacts with, but rather about the feeling of lacking a shared sense of meaning with others. One can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if there's no meaningful connection or reciprocity.
Reciprocal Relationships
These are relationships where both parties can give and receive help, fostering a sense of shared meaning and purpose. This reciprocity is identified as a key way to overcome loneliness, as opposed to one-sided interactions.
Post-Traumatic Growth
While post-traumatic stress is a recognized response to trauma, more people actually experience post-traumatic growth. This involves re-evaluating life, resetting values, and making positive changes that lead to an improved life after a traumatic event.
Junk Values
Analogous to junk food, these are values focused on money, status, and showing off, often promoted by advertising and social media. Scientific research suggests that the more one is driven by these values, the more likely they are to experience depression and anxiety because these values do not meet deeper human needs.
Meaning (Russian Philosophy)
In contrast to Western focus on maximizing happiness, Russian philosophy emphasizes pursuing meaning. When life has meaning and purpose, it can help individuals tolerate and navigate painful moments, as the pain is contextualized within a larger narrative of purpose.
7 Questions Answered
Humans have natural psychological needs to feel they belong, that their life makes sense, to have stability and security, and to have a future they understand. When these needs are not met, it can lead to increased depression and anxiety.
Financial insecurity is a major driver of anxiety and depression; individuals with private income are significantly less likely to develop severe anxiety. Providing a baseline of financial security has been shown to reduce mental health problems.
Governments can implement measures like guaranteed basic income, cancelling rent and utility bills, and guaranteeing wages, as seen in countries like El Salvador, France, and Germany, to provide economic stability and reduce anxiety.
Loneliness is best combated by fostering a shared sense of meaning and reciprocal relationships, even if physical separation is necessary. This can involve engaging in collective projects, art, music, or political activism, and reaching out to others to show love and compassion.
Yes, many people experience 'post-traumatic growth' after trauma, where they re-evaluate their lives, reset values, and make changes that lead to a better life, even while acknowledging the initial pain.
The crisis highlights the true value of essential workers (e.g., healthcare, food delivery, sanitation) who are often disrespected, prompting a re-evaluation of 'junk values' (money, status) towards more meaningful, collective, and compassionate values.
Individuals can pressure political representatives to address financial insecurity, fight for better conditions for key workers, and personally reach out to people who have made a difference in their lives to show love and compassion.
15 Actionable Insights
1. Advocate for Financial Security
Pressure your political representatives to address the financial insecurities people are facing, as this is the single best thing for collective mental health and can be done through social media or email.
2. Re-evaluate Societal Values
Use this moment to reset and re-evaluate societal values, shifting focus from material wealth and status to recognizing and honoring the essential contributions of key workers who keep society functioning.
3. Build Shared Meaning & Purpose
Combat loneliness by actively building shared meaning and purpose with others, even when physically separated, through activities like art, music, or collective political projects.
4. Focus on Post-Traumatic Growth
Actively consider the concept of post-traumatic growth, where trauma can lead to re-evaluation and positive life changes, without diminishing the reality of the trauma itself.
5. Embrace Global Interconnectedness
Recognize and embrace our global interconnectedness as a single species, understanding that collective action and listening to world scientists are essential for addressing shared crises like pandemics and climate change.
6. Adopt WHO Mental Health Approach
After the crisis, adopt the World Health Organization’s perspective on mental health, recognizing that depression and anxiety are primarily social problems requiring social solutions, not just biological ones.
7. Organize for Higher Minimum Wage
Initiate or join a large-scale, organized effort to fight for a significantly higher minimum wage, especially to honor essential workers who risk their lives to keep society functioning.
8. Form Psychological Human Chains
Form ‘psychological human chains’ of meaning, solidarity, and love to foster connection and support each other, especially when physical contact is limited.
9. Practice Daily Gratitude & Reflection
Spend five minutes each morning reflecting on what you are grateful for and what you learned the previous day, which can be a gratifying exercise to foster positivity.
10. Reconnect & Thank Loved Ones
To combat anxiety and depression, make a list of all the people in your life who have made a difference or helped you, and then call them to express your gratitude and reconnect.
11. Allow Time to Adapt Gracefully
Go easy on yourself and allow time to adapt to new realities, as it’s completely okay not to feel okay during challenging times.
12. Daily Small Health Actions
Incorporate small health-focused actions daily, as these will significantly improve how you feel, especially during challenging periods.
13. Join Online Support Community
Join the ‘Dr. Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe’ on Facebook for an online community that offers support, inspiration, motivation, and a space to share struggles and receive help.
14. Read Recommended Books
To manage physical and mental health and build resilience, consider reading or revisiting books like ‘The Stress Solution’ or ‘Feel Better in 5’ for actionable tips.
15. Utilize Free Expert Resources
Access free audio resources from leading experts on topics like loneliness, values, and addiction by visiting thelostconnections.com or chasingthescream.com.
6 Key Quotes
Loneliness isn't about the quantity of people you interact with. It's about feeling that you have a shared sense of meaning with someone.
Johann Hari
If you're putting people in a situation where the choice is either follow the best public health advice and not be able to feed your kids, potentially lose your home, no one should be put in that choice, right?
Johann Hari
You are so much more powerful than you think, right? I remember I was talking about this before. People have power, they have agency, small groups of people can change the world when they unite and they engage with people in a spirit of love and compassion.
Johann Hari
We've disrespected people by choosing a sick and worthless set of values, right, that said that someone like Philip Green, the billionaire, scumbag owner of Topshop, was a more valuable person than my grandmother cleaning toilets. The opposite was always true.
Johann Hari
We are all connected whether we like it or not. You might imagine you are John Wayne alone on the, on the horizon, but you are not right. Even John Wayne wasn't that. And even the Cowboys weren't there. You are not an isolated individual battling against the world. You are part of a social species. We are all connected.
Johann Hari
When it comes to depression, we need to talk less about chemical imbalances and more about power imbalances.
United Nations
1 Protocols
Coping and Action During Crisis
Johann Hari- Pressure your political representatives to deal with the financial insecurities people are facing in your country.
- Figure out what you want to fight for to honor the people who are keeping society alive (e.g., higher minimum wage for key workers).
- Make a list of all the people in your life who have made a difference to you or helped you, and contact them to show love and compassion.