Reaching out

One of the best things about living on Lanzarote is waking up to warm sunshine streaming through your windows almost every morning. It’s an irresistible invitation to get up, leap into the day and enjoy every minute of it. An extra hour of sunshine in the evenings is an added bonus that makes April such a hopeful month.

But sometimes, even the sunshine isn’t enough, and that’s especially true after a year in which almost all of us have suffered from uncertainty, worry, separation and general anxiety. How many of us haven’t felt feelings of despair and utter fatigue as we wait for things to get back to normal?

Mental health is hard to measure, but studies show that it has been an increasing problem during the pandemic. Even though young people are least at risk from the virus, they are one of the groups that are most vulnerable to its mental impact, along with health workers and, of course, those whose livelihoods have been destroyed.

But anyone can suffer mental illness, and there is no vaccine for it. In our next issue we’d like to focus on this issue, with special attention to the problems faced by foreign residents, which are compounded by isolation and the language barrier. That’s why we’re asking anyone who has found help to deal with mental problems recently to contact us. We’d like to know what’s available, what needs to be addressed and any other tips or advice that need to be shared. Contact us at editorial@gazettelife.com

This month, we’re looking forward to seeing things open up after the Easter restrictions end on the 9th and we’re also keeping our fingers crossed that vaccine supply can meet the massive step up in jabs that is planned to start this month.

It’s been a hard road, and there’s still a way to go, but we’re getting there.

Enjoy the magazine, Shaun.