By Eric Martin
The mental health issues associated with the quarantine measures combating COVID-19 are all too familiar to Emmaus Community members, whose journey through life has seen them arrive at a place where social isolation is avoided and communal living paths the way to healing.
Founder Br Al Archer’s vision was to provide long term accommodation for adults with mental health issues, where people could live independently, with support and assistance, whilst sharing the same journey: and now, with social distancing a fact of daily life, the community is adjusting to deal with this new challenge with strict hygiene and faith.
“Emmaus had to take drastic measures with COVID-19,” Br Al said.
“We immediately put in a lockdown policy: no-one is allowed into the community and members are strongly advised to keep visits outside of the community to essentials only.
“Community in normal times is the gift that keeps giving but, in this pandemic, we have to be so careful.
“Many members of the Emmaus Community have several underlying health issues, due to long term mental ill health, and a lot of our community are smokers.”
At the community homes, members have spray painted the ground to indicate where tables and chairs must be, as well as setting up stations where people can wash and dry their hands.
Emmaus also counts some 150 non-residential members and their families as an integral part of the community and reports that food services are still ongoing throughout the crisis.
“We still are able to give food to other organisations, it’s just that we use a different method: instead of people coming in we leave goods at the door,” Br Al said.
Retired psychiatric unit worker Kelvin McConville loves his volunteer work with the Emmaus Community, sharing with The Record in 2017 how mental health issues can lead to other problems which further aggravate the person’s situation.
“Emmaus really helps people who have fallen into poverty or homelessness because of their mental illness – either depression or anxiety. Mental illness can cause job losses and dependency problems.”
Kelvin says Emmaus “helps to stop the revolving door of psychiatric hospital”.
The Record caught up with Kelvin this week to discover how the community was responding to the crisis.
“They’ve been so used to looking after one another as a family, as a tightly knit community – so I think it would be very hard in the house to be separate. During the day it’s easier but in the evening, you’re all used to coming together to socialise.”
One of the ways that the team at Emmaus builds trust with community members is by attending various medical appointments and helping with shopping and day trips, something that poses fresh challenges in the current environment.
“Medical appointments are still available, but I normally take Jimmy (one of the residents) to the Men’s Shed: but obviously that’s been closed down because of this, and with everybody in lockdown at, it’s better to stay away,” Kelvin said.
“But they know that if I’m needed, I’ll come in, no problem.”
Kelvin is 65 this month and whilst under the age set by the government as ‘at risk’ (70+), he admits that he can understand the current health concerns keeping volunteers, many of whom are fellow retirees, at home.
“But I’m told that I don’t respect my age,” he joked. “Growing up in the 40’s I just feel like I can do it.
“But it impacts on everything, it’s scary.”
Kelvin shared that a real concern for him are the many issues that are now starting to surface within the wider community – in response to the social isolation and unemployment caused by quarantine.
“It’s bad enough living on a shoestring budget, but looking at the unemployment now, when was the last time you saw ques going right down and around the street?” he asked.
“When you see that and you know that all these people are not working, and that they have mortgages and rent and bills to pay: I mean, could it get any tougher than this? I don’t know.”
Kelvin says that faith is playing an important role in combating the potential mental health issues associated with the quarantine, though acknowledges that the inability to attend church is challenging.
“I pray at home and pray the Rosary, but it’s very hard. Yet even though I’m one person by myself, I think that the Lord will recognise that I am doing the right thing given the current situation,” he said.
“This is something deeper to be aware about, because it’s going to go away but then come back again at some other stage as well, if not Covid-19 then something else – how better to be prepared?”
Brother Al agrees.
“Faith has played an enormous part in dealing with Covid-19: our soul has three defaults, and these are Joy, Enthusiasm and Acceptance, and, with the love of Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother, we must default into Acceptance,” he said.
“We have a choice every moment in our lives, especially in this crisis: we can choose bitter or we can choose better. Let us together choose better in Jesus Christ.”