When we think of what Covid-19 means for mental health, words like "perfect storm" and "tsunami" are usually somewhere nearby.

But in our @Collective_Psyc report for @wellcometrust out today, @JulesEvans11 and I argue there's also another, more hopeful side to the story...

...one that's about resilience, innovation, self-reliance, and mutual aid.

Our report is all about the *positive practices* that people (especially the young) have been using to cope - and even thrive - during the pandemic.

Turns out there are a LOT. Here are 10 key areas...

1) Arts and creativity. Creative hobbies were the single biggest support for our mental health, according to a UCL study. Case in point: the price of yeast soared more than 6,000% as people sought consolation in baking.

2) Family and relationships. Lockdown forced us apart - but also brought us closer. 25% of parents said lockdown improved relations with their kids. And in the UK, 64% of adults feel their communities have come together to help each other during the crisis.

3) Religion and philosophy. Google searches for prayer reached their highest level ever during lockdown, while one in ten Brits said they turned to philosophy for support. Sales of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius went through the roof.

4) Nature and green space. 63% of us felt more connected to nature during the lockdown, with soaring demand leading to a global bicycle shortage. Around the world, seed shops sold out as people got serious about gardening

5) Games and sports. Sales of games consoles rocketed so much they had a tangible effect on UK inflation. People found peace in Animal Crossing, connected to each other with quiz nights, and logged on en masse to online fitness and yoga classes

6) Volunteering. At least 6,000 new mutual aid groups sprung up around the world during lockdown, according to the Mutual Aid Wiki - hugely increasing people's sense of agency and belonging just when it was most needed.

7) Activism. From public demonstrations of support for key workers to BLM protests, youth-led campaigning on rebuilding after Covid-19, and new activism in schools, the pandemic has provided the backdrop to a resurgent wave of political engagement

8) Education and learning. With over 1bn kids out of school, Covid unleashed an extraordinary wave of innovation in online classes and learning. MITx courses alone received over half a million new enrollments

9) Employment. With millions working from home, on furlough, or out of work, Covid has turned work life upside down. Already, we're seeing new working patterns, shifts in how companies support employees, and new emphasis on work with purpose and fresh ideas on work and welfare

10) Grief and trauma. Amid huge suffering, there was also a renewed sense of meaning and transcendence among health workers: so-called ‘post-traumatic growth’. And the crisis has also created an opportunity for fresh and more holistic approaches to both grieving and trauma.

I'll do another thread later today on some of the key reflections we took away from doing the research - but if you want to take a look now, then...

here's the summary: https://www.collectivepsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Collective-Resilience-summary.pdf

and here's the full report: https://www.collectivepsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Collective-Resilience.pdf

PS don't forget, if you want to stay up to speed on news and happenings at the Collective Psychology Project, you can sign up for updates here:

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PPS here’s that followup thread with 10 reflections on what we learned while doing the report: https://mobile.twitter.com/alexevansuk/status/1305450340624617473