Keeping your mental health in good condition can be accomplished a number of different ways. You can listen to your favourite album, binge watch a TV series you’ve been meaning to for years, or engage yourself in a household project.
While all those activities can put a hop in your step, nothing beats catching up with family and friends. Even if you can’t be in the same room as someone, it’s become increasingly easier to spend quality time over a video call.
As Vivien Williams wrote in a 2019 article published on the official Mayo Clinic website:
“Socializing not only staves off feelings of loneliness, but also it helps sharpen memory and cognitive skills, increases your sense of happiness and well-being, and may even help you live longer. In-person is best, but connecting via technology also works.”
With many online meeting platforms now available to people, it is important to recognize how they can help us experience better mental wellness.
Cuts Down the Distance
A video chat can make someone who lives far away from you feel oh so close. This can certainly minimize the challenging feelings we might have when a best friend moves to another country for their dream job, or if parents relocate during retirement.
Knowing that the loved ones who you rely on most are just a few clicks away, is comforting and reassuring to say the least.
Good for a Laugh
As the saying goes, laughter really is the best medicine. If you are experiencing a bad day, or just think your mental health needs a boost, having a video call with your funniest bestie is a great cure.
You can relive the hilarious experiences you’ve shared together, laugh about ridiculous YouTube videos you recently watched, and giggle about life’s weird, random happenings. Whatever you do, stay on the call until your cheeks hurt. It’ll be so worth it!
Sense of Community
Frequently feeling alone in the world can have a real negative impact on a person’s mental health. As such, it is a great idea to schedule regular video call sessions with friends.
Doing this will help you feel like a part of a tight-knit community, even if it’s online, as opposed to an in-person occasion every Thursday night.
Consistently having a group gathering like this can do wonders for your sense of belonging.
Something to Look Forward to
Having a blank social/events calendar can very easily lead to feelings of isolation and boredom. Therefore, it’s hugely important to keep your calendar full of recurring virtual meetings.
Doing this will give you something to regularly look forward to and make plans around. Even if this does become part of a routine, at least it is one that’ll satisfy your mental wellness more than grocery shopping or cleaning the garage.
An Opportunity for Professional Help
Mental health awareness is crucial for everyone. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or another matter, online therapy can be sought.
Telepsychiatry virtual meetings are now available to those who need assistance and feel more comfortable seeking it from home, or another remote location.
To find support near you, Google “telepsychiatry” and the region in which you live.
Banty is Here for You
Banty’s video chat solutions come with a variety of features geared toward keeping people connected with one another, including:
Custom Banty URL: The unique Banty URL you create (i.e., Banty.com/AmandaJohnson) is the only meeting link you’ll ever have to send out to loved ones. They will no longer receive invites littered with auto-generated alphanumeric links and passwords.
Watch YouTube Together: Share a YouTube link directly in your video feed and make it easier for everyone to laugh at the funniest viral video of the day.
Video Quality Considerations: If your video chat partner has a poor Internet connection, you can slow the bitrate of your feed to avoid having a choppy video interrupt your conversation.
Private and Secure Conversations: Banty uses end-to-end encryption technology to keep the conversations you have private and secure.
Screen Share: If you have new photos of your pet, or a trip you just got back from, simply share your screen, and boast about both accordingly.
To host video calls with friends and family, you can subscribe now to Banty Personal for $19.95 CAD/month.
If you are a mental health professional and would like to assist patients through an online meeting platform, Banty Virtual Clinic is available for $74.99 CAD/month. We are HIPAA/PHIPA compliant for virtual medicine.
Both plans also come with a free, 14-day trial period.
