Companies are in trouble. Jobs are being made redundant. The dollar is sliding. Enough of all of this bad news. Hard times are upon us; we are in this together so let us work towards finding solutions. Bad times don't last forever. It is often said, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade'.

● What each of us can do: This is a great opportunity for us to talk and explore the opportunities that lie ahead. I encourage all of us to shift to a solution-focused mode of thinking and operation. Read below and see how we can play a greater part as we search for solutions.

● Tune out sometimes: Everyday we hear talk of bad times. Everyone is talking. The radio, television and newspapers are all focusing on the bad times. The more we listen to the bad news the more depressing it becomes. If all of this bad news is affecting how you think and behave then it's time to tune out and start selecting what you read, watch and listen to.

● Determine your needs and wants: We must decipher needs and wants. You may want to go on a vacation. You may want to buy a new car. You may want to buy new clothes. It is a want if you can live without it. Your needs are important. Yes, you need to pay your rent or your mortgage.

● Share ideas with others: United we stand, divided we fall. Let us use every opportunity to share survival strategies with each other at our association, club and staff meetings.

● The church: The church plays a major role in our lives. I appeal to the church community to stop preaching the message of gloom and doom that drives fear into people and scares them. This is a golden opportunity for churches to put programmes in place to help the poor. Churches can also host seminars to help citizens plan their lives, budget, prepare meals and deal with job loss. It is time to stop making this hell on earth worse and start creating a little heaven on earth.

● The workplace: This is an opportunity for us to mobilise the workplace. Every effort should be made to bring staff together to share ideas on coping. In staff meetings, we should explore ways to conserve energy, ensure that taps are turned off and encourage workers to carpool. We should also direct efforts towards helping workers cope at home. Companies considering making workers redundant should ensure that proper systems are in place to help them deal with the trauma.

● The media: The media play such a critical role in our lives — to inform and educate. I would like to see greater effort directed at helping people to cope and to seek out opportunities in these times.

● The government: The government has been relatively silent and is not helping us to find solutions. We also know that the government is doing its best, but there is far too much talk about 'fiscal targets' and high-flown economics which the majority of us either don't understand or don't care about at this time.

An entire communication package should be developed to inform people how to conserve, to prepare economical meals at lower costs, to budget and generally survive. Government should also remind us of the services available for people in need and ensure that systems are put in place to assist those who are sick and elderly.

Warning us of the hard times that will be coming is important, but what is even more important is sharing information on how to cope. Let us not take anything for granted.

Bad times do not have to last forever; we are in it together, so let's work together.

Dr Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and head, Section of Psychiatry, Dept. Of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies. Email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.