Tea, and hugs with Molly

Dr Kerry Chant PSM, is NSW Health’s Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary, Population and Public Health and has been leading the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Chant is all too familiar with the pressures of living and working during the pandemic – fronting regular media conferences and juggling the many leadership tasks involved in ensuring both the public and healthcare staff are safe.

Taking a moment out of her busy day, Dr Chant shared a personal insight into how she stays mentally fit during this challenging time.

What does a typical workday look like for you during COVID-19?

The days are long and there are varied issues to manage. There’s always an element of unpredictability of what the day will bring, but it has also been a great opportunity to work with a really dedicated and passionate team.

What have you found most challenging during the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a period of long, sustained, high intensity effort. I admire how far we’ve come and how hard the Public Health team, and whole NSW health system, is working.

I’ve been in awe at how hard everyone’s worked and how passionate and committed they are. I’m delighted when we find linkages between cases, positive COVID-19 cases, and bring clusters to an end. Everyone has had a willingness to do what needs to be done and it makes me very proud to see how people are engaging and collaborating.

We will have to sustain this level of work for many months over the year ahead and that requires a lot of resilience. 

What do you do to cope with the pressures and stress of COVID-19?

My three key tricks would be tea, tea and more tea … patting my beautiful dog Molly (a 15-year-old Sydney Silky Terrier) … more tea … and chilling out watching some foreign TV show before going to sleep.

I’m pretty liberal with my tea. I like green teas and black teas, like Jasmine tea, but I’m not fond of floral or aromatic teas.

I have a teapot on hand in meetings and I will use my warm knitted red and blue COVID-19 tea cosy for very special occasions.

What is it about this activity you find relaxing and helpful to de-stress during COVID-19?

I’ve always drunk tea with people – it has a social and relaxing dimension, which I find helps me on busy days.

Kerry Chant’s five tips to staff to de-stress during COVID-19

• Care for people around you and be there to support them if they need it.
• Allow yourself to have a break.
• Get outside as much as you can. Go for a walk yourself - or with a colleague – and make the most of this beautiful weather.
• Give others in your team permission to have a rest.
• Remember, the COVID-19 pandemic will be a long period of sustained effort and we need to support each other to get through it.