The Bonds in Times of Coronavirus

Bruna Dighera is a psychologist and psychotherapist. She has been working in the area of Bergamo with people with drug addictions or who have engaged in deviant and criminal behaviours for both Justice and National Healthcare systems and charities. She has also been engaged in social innovation initiatives, including projects around restorative communities. She coordinates the Lecco working group for restorative justice is involved in the ConTatto welfare project implemented in Como area, which is focused on restorative justice. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, in which her area was among the  most affected, she offers psychological support for health care workers and others impacted by the crisis. In the following text, she reflects on  the situation. Her thoughts make up part of our #SolidarityOverDistance updates. 

"We are no longer in a "suspension" phase as if we could, in the short/medium term, return to a 'before'. "

In the Restorative City projects of Lecco and Como, the first two weeks circa all project activities were de facto suspended both in Lecco and Como. We do, however, stay connected to the networks, volunteers and the citizens involved through all means necessary, including phone, e-mail and  online meetings and video conferences with the staff. 

We believed the “suspension" was limited in time.

In the last two weeks, we became aware that this time should rather be viewed as a transition, one that might last months instead of weeks.  The idea of "postponement" has been replaced by the idea of "re-activation", by the search for new ways to maintain certain activities, but also by identifying new activities or areas of activity that respond to the needs, efforts and necessities of this epidemic phase.

The impact towards more social isolation

In the meantime, people increasingly respect the indications of isolation and social distancing, while expressing fatigue, sadness and a sense of constraint and disorientation for the sudden breakdown of daily rhythms and habits. The sense of "daily normality" becomes more vague every day, especially for those who cannot go to their workplace. Family life around the clock is experienced as very demanding and stressful: many stories are about tensions and conflicts between parents and children, particularly with teenagers, or between young people and couples. Others may be overwhelmed by loneliness and by the separation from other family members who live separately, even if nearby. The supportive relationships and help among family members have been interrupted or difficult, marked by the mutual concern of infection. Those individuals who visited families to provide domestic support are no longer available. Concern for one's own health and those of loved ones seems to be overwhelming. There is fear of infection, the appearance of symptoms, the aggravation of the disease, the possible hospitalisation, the "disappearance" in the intensive care units, the death communicated remotely, the difficulty or even impossibility of physical proximity to share mourning and collective rituals, added to the pain for  the loss of loved  ones that could not be accompanied or even greeted. People spend hours on the phone and on social media. We are overwhelmed, physically and mentally, of online and telephone communications.