Sydney, 14th May 2020: As Australia emerges from lockdown and adjusts to the reality of social distancing at home, work and in public, a significant number are seeing that the changes of recent weeks have negatively impacted their physical and mental wellness, highlighting the importance of a diligent approach to self-care during the time of COVID-19 and beyond.

The Panadol 2020 Rethink Care study commissioned during the pandemic indicates that while Australians know the benefits of self-care and the impact it has on their wellbeing, people affected by COVID-19 restrictions, including those who’ve traded the office or classroom for their couch, kitchen, or bed, are experiencing a sharp increase in stress and physical pain.

People’s mental wellbeing has been significantly affected by the introduction of social distancing, with 51% admitting they are more stressed and find it hard to switch off, while 48% claim they are more distracted now and struggle to get things done. Gen Z and Millennials in particular (78% and 70% respectively) are having trouble focusing on the work they need to do, while many are forgetting to eat meals or take sufficient breaks.

This stress has been further exacerbated by a range of other issues, including monetary concerns (60% of people confess that COVID-19 has caused financial difficulty), job security (49% of new home workers claim they feel less secure in their job than they did previously), technological shortcomings (58% of new home workers claim technology is slow and lags when they need it), and home schooling (72% of mothers and 65% of fathers are concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on their children’s education).

More encouraging is seeing people’s relationships flourish, with 61% claiming they are more connected with their family and 33% claiming the same of their friends. Younger generations have experienced a more positive impact on relationships, while Boomers are least likely to feel a sense of change in routine or relationships.

With nutrition being crucial to people’s wellbeing, it’s positive to see 60% of Australians eating more nutritious home-cooked meals every night, while 84% of parents with children under 18 are enjoying spending more time with their children. 

In order to help Australians better cope with the unique pressures of this time and readjust as they emerge from life under lockdown, Panadol is partnering with leading not-for-profit in the preventative mental health space, Smiling Mind. The partnership supports the introduction of a new initiative in June called Mindful Month with Smiling Mind, which is designed to encourage Aussies to establish a sustainable mindfulness practice over the course of 30 days.

The initiative will see users complete daily mindfulness exercises over 30 consecutive days within the leading Smiling Mind app, where they’ll be able to track their progress and results via pre- and post-surveys.

“The Panadol research shows that Australians are under significant pressure right now, we want to make it easier for them to access tools and resources to help them foster positive mental health practices now, and into the future,” said Dr Addie Wootten, Smiling Mind CEO. 

“Through this partnership with Panadol, we believe we’ll be able to offer genuine relief and support for Australians who are looking to take care of their mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis, but need help forming a sustainable practice.”

April was the busiest month on record for Smiling Mind, with 181,213 new downloads bringing the total to more than 5 million. 

“2020 has been a particularly difficult and stressful time for Australians, so it’s encouraging to see so many reconnecting with family despite the challenges,” said Nick Boyden, Area Marketing Director for GSK Consumer Healthcare ANZ.

“Self-care is an essential ingredient in minimising pain and maximising wellbeing as we care for ourselves and our loved ones during this time. It remains Panadol’s mission to rethink care to help more Australians lead happier, healthier lives, and our partnership with Smiling Mind seeks to make mindfulness more accessible for all.”