The Brink: Prof. Muroff Encourages People to Prioritize Mental Health This Winter
The “winter blues” may seem like an ordinary slump, but this year’s latest COVID-19 surge has mental health experts taking proactive action. In an interview with The Brink, BU School of Social Work Prof. Jordana Muroff and BU College of Arts & Sciences Michael Otto give their tips for keeping depression at bay over the next few months.
Excerpt from “How to Overcome Winter Blues Amid COVID Uncertainty,” by Jessica Colarossi originally published by The Brink:
Although the staggering surge of COVID-19 cases fueled by the Omicron variant appears to be on a steady decline in Massachusetts, experts are quick to point out the unpredictable nature of the pandemic. Between the continuous uncertainty about the pandemic and the sometimes bleak chill of winter, now is not the time to be passive about mental health.
‘A lot of people might know the common strategies for what might help make them feel better, but what’s often hard is getting out there and doing it,’ says Jordana Muroff, a BU School of Social Work associate professor and chair of the clinical practice department. Muroff researches treatments for various mental health disorders, such as therapies for hoarding disorder, to help make them more effective, and works closely with local community agencies to expand access to services.
The Brink spoke with Muroff and Otto to share five go-to strategies for boosting mood and resiliency during uncertain times.”