Health advocates are warning that increased isolation due to coronavirus concerns may result in a spate of mental health problems.
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Riverina Bluebell chairman Allen Hunt has devised some strategies to keep in touch while keeping a distance.
"You can still reach out to each other," he said.
"Actually what I think would be the most important thing is that if we're in isolation, we should be sharing what it's like with each other. That will normalise what we're all feeling and let each other know we're not the only one."
As social gatherings and sporting events continue to be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus spread, Mr Hunt said it would be understandable to feel disappointment or frustration.
But, he said, it was still important to "put in the effort" during times of struggle.
"There are certain personality types that will struggle with it more than others. The social butterflies, it will be draining for them to stay isolated," he said.
"We all need to know that it's OK to feel sad and it's OK to feel scared. That's normal and it would be strange if you weren't."
Head of crisis services at Lifeline, Rachel Bowes, told The Daily Advertiser the toll of self-isolation on the nation's mental health is yet to fully be known.
"It's a bit of a new one for all of us, many won't have experienced self-isolation for any long period before," she said.
"It's not a short-term thing, people could potentially be living and working alone for months and the longer you go in isolation, the greater the risk."
To combat the effects of isolation, Ms Bowes recommends scheduling a regular phone chat with a friend, or if possible, organise a semi-regular walk in the fresh air.
"We all need to be looking out for signs of struggle, and that could be if we're less motivated, not looking after ourselves, not taking eating properly or paying attention to meals, or getting into negative sleep patterns."
She also notes that building a routine into the day can be an effective way of dealing with social distancing.
But while he encourages people to continue to engage with each other, Mr Hunt said it might also be worth switching off from social media for a while.
"Uncertainty is all around us, it's on TV, it's on our phones as soon as we wake up," he said.
"It's repetitive and in our brains, we begin to think this is happening everywhere and it's happening all over.
"Check in with how you're having conversations. Are we just talking about all the latest things we've seen on the virus that may or may not be true? Or are we checking in with how we're feeling about it."
Conversely, if harnessed well, Ms Bowes believes this time of isolation could potentially enrich relationships.
"This is a good opportunity to connect with people around us, our neighbours, our friends, our family," she said.
"Open conversations with those you're worried about. When workplaces close, take note of those who seem less than thrilled to be working from home and if they are reluctant, is there another option you can explore?"