Careful decisions a must for Carnival 2021

CAREFUL decisions have to be made about Carnival 2021, said University of the West Indies (UWI) senior lecturer in psychiatry Dr Sandra Reid at a UWI virtual symposium on Sunday.

She noted French sociologist Emile Durkheim used the phrase “collective effervescence” to describe the contagious euphoria humans experience when engaging in certain customs including concerts and large sporting events. “And definitely it is part of the Carnival experience.”

She noted Durkheim said this phenomenon fills a human need for belonging, promotes happiness and societal connectedness, and serves as an effective coping mechanism for some people.

She said that while mass gatherings are unlikely to happen in February 2021, for Carnival, with the attendant lost opportunity for collective effervescence, “the rumbling of creativity has already begun to take place in showcasing the cultural spectacle of Carnival.”

Reid cited Panograma, a virtual competition for pannists on Instagram. She said, however, there is a danger in having a Carnival mentality.

“In true Trinbagonian style, we might start relaxing the social distancing and the hygiene measures once the lockdown measures begin to roll back. Without a true grasp of the importance of continued social distancing, we run the risk of our celebratory attitude to life leading us to hyper-socialise, not through social media, but through making up for missed parties, limes, the drinking, all of which have potential to undo all that has already been accomplished. That is one reason why we cannot rush to roll back (measures).”

She said that TT has been for fortunate as the country has benefited from “rapid, incisive leadership of this pandemic” and sadly with human loss but less than many other countries, and with a quickly flattened curve. Reid added it will take at least a year before there is a vaccine for covid19 and therefore physical distancing must continue.

She said while the majority of people will take action to stay connected, the protracted disruption to life and relative loss of freedom could result in anger, depression, anxiety and even grief. She reported for many, including the 76,697 people living alone, the majority in the 50-59 year age range according to the Central Statistical Office, the lack of close social interactions could also increase levels of stress and anxiety.

On coping strategies, she advised people a create a structure with specific times that match as closely as possible what they were doing if they were outside. She also advised people to engage in self-care - eating well, exercising properly, getting adequate sleep, and, for those who believe in a higher power, there was nothing like trusting in that higher power.