Steady: A Guide to Better Mental Health Through and Beyond the Coronavirus Pandemic

How do you deal with uncertainty and anxiety when your world is upended by the coronavirus pandemic? Dr Sarb Johal, an expert in emergency management and disaster psychology, had to answer that question for an entire country as he helped develop the world-leading response that saw Covid-19 stamped out by the ‘team of five million’ in his home country of New Zealand. The lessons, which we can all apply in our daily lives, are in this timely book.

Full of easy-to-follow, practical tools and tips, Steady can get you through any crisis or change of circumstance with your mental health intact. You’ll learn how to deal with uncertainty; the psychological impact of empathy — both on ourselves when we offer it, and to those who receive it; along with practical ideas around introducing structure into your life and how this can help reduce stress and contain feelings of panic.

Steady is for anyone wanting to strengthen their capacity to ride the possible coming waves of Covid-19 — as well as life’s general ups and downs — with more calm, ease and a sense of groundedness.

About the Author
Born in the UK where he trained as a Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sarb Johal’s experience encompasses clinical practice, frontline services, policy development and Ministerial advice and strategic communications. Since 2006, he has helped the New Zealand and UK governments, as well as the World Health Organisation, develop psychosocial responses to some of the major crises of the last decade, including the H1N1 pandemic, the Canterbury earthquakes, the Kaikōura earthquake, the Christchurch mosque shootings and most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Johal lives in Wellington, New Zealand, with his wife and young family.