After about four and half months of working as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist I have relocated my home office at work, In the last few months we have had to set up home offices and work remotely during the viral pandemic. Although the Health Secretary in the UK stated last week that GPs should resort exclusively to video consultations, I disagree.

Nowadays if I have to see a young person and their family I have to wash and dress like a surgeon and wear a mask. Most families are fine but it feels initially quite stressful for everyone in the room. Then I try to be reassuring and we get into the business in hand.

Over the last few months I have prioritised my own health and looking after my family. First things are first. There is pressure for all to do more online work and administration and the home office has enabled the corporation to colonise the private life. However we must find balance.

Broadly speaking I live the work and it is the positive feeling in the work that enable us to work with young people with mental health problems, issues and diagnoses. However, our success, our work and happiness in life is also compromised by the encroaching nature of stress and anger. The stress is common to all in this age of Coronavirus. The anger arises from the work, the impossible nature of getting on top of administration, political considerations and sheer exhaustion. We must ensure that we have good sleep and minimise our levels of stress with exercise, yoga, mindfulness practice or anything else!

I will try to post daily blogs from now on, which will be shorter but more consistent than in the last six years!