Pandemic mixed with infodemic equals misinformation

Reliable information helps manage stress and anxiety

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t traveling alone. It’s bringing its pal “infodemic” with it. The World Health Organization defines infodemic as the overabundance of information - ranging from good to bad and everything in between. 

The difficulty of being able to find reliable information leads to more stress and anxiety than that caused by the original issue or situation of concern. Despite the sea of information available on the internet, there are some reliable sources and steps everyone can take to filter the content they consume.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the National Institutes of Health are all good sources for information and guidance during this and other pandemics.

The Atlantic provides a few tips for people when reviewing information surrounding this pandemic, keep these things in mind.

• Consider the source’s source. Did the information being presented to you come from a reliable source?
• Be constructive. Is what you’re sharing constructive for anyone who may read it or will it make matters worse?
• Be helpful is more important than being right. Even with evidence, people tend to double down on information they perceive as right. Be there to guide them as they discover information on their own.
• Be mindful what you say and how you say it. Anxiety is contagious. Be fact-based, patient, and kind when sharing content. 

Manage infodemics using the tips above to help keep stress and anxiety in check during difficult times. Sticking to reliable sources and sharing fact-based information helps everyone curb anxiety and panic, while making informed decisions.

Sources: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200202-sitrep-13-ncov-v3.pdf

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/heres-how-fight-coronavirus-misinformation/608914/

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