6) Ensuring Best Writing Practices (OUTDATED)
After understanding the general requirements to keep in mind whilst submitting your content articles for 7 Cups publication, this discussion highlights some general writing tips to keep in mind when writing content that relates to mental health.
Things to Do:
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Make sure the article is empathetic, kind, helpful & informative (it fulfills the reader who found it), empowering. Replace mental “illness” or “disease” with “condition” or “issue” and soften any other mental health stigma language that might pop up. This helps ensure that your tone is supportive.
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Think of story ideas that will be sharable in social media
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Be concise
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Be conversational and accessible in your writing
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Back up statements with research or facts if applicable (cite sources) - try to confirm facts by ensuring at least 2 different sources mentioning them.
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Include expert quotes and insights -- you can reach out to a psychologist or expert about your story and offer a quote and link to their practice for the collaboration. Make sure their title/expertise is attributed in the article
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Be thorough, don’t gloss over specifics
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Give the reader empathy and hope
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Put yourself in the reader’s shoes: ask yourself what they need out of reading your piece and then deliver that
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Try to combine personal experiences with expert insight to strengthen your piece.
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Consider including friends and family members of people impacted by your topic in your audience.
For more tips on reporting mental health conditions and choosing words carefully, read the American Psychiatric Association’s article here
Other Tips:
The following are general guidelines to help find facts, help link things with 7 Cups as well as outreaching tips for personal stories and expert insight:
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Always try to hyperlink some of your main sources.
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Use authentic reporting websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, or American Psychological Association, etc. for facts and up-to-date statistics. (Can be hyperlinked as mentioned above)
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Use Google Scholar to search for relevant research work. Abstracts usually summarize research findings.
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When outlining your article, consider asking yourself which information and what type of information can be added as a priority. For example, an article about mental health during the pandemic would likely report authentic global statistics and could use published research information.
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When reviewing other resources that cover your topic or something close to it, always ask yourself what can help enhance that available content. How can you ensure you are providing a unique take on the topic? Consider thinking about what is missing that could be worth mentioning.
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7 Cups has lots of free services, including available self-help guides, subcommunities with forums, and other areas - generally, editorial assistants at 7 Cups help backlink to these resources, but you are welcome to directly mention them if it applies, for instance, mentioning how Sharing Circles can help users cope with loneliness or the lack of support in their daily lives.
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Outreaching for both personal or expert quotes can be done via social media, contact forms of blog posts, or even email considering which information is available. You are welcome to PM @SoulfullyAButterfly if you think a 7 Cups Expert can help provide you the quote or required insight.
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When outreaching for personal stories, introduce yourself and 7 Cups and explain your article topic briefly, and why you think their personal experience could help. Share how you can back-link (link back) to the person’s blog or other resources if they would like that in return for sharing their quote. Ensure that you ask them if they would like their name to be disclosed, or if they would like a pseudonym. Finally, let them know you will share the final published version so they can also share it with their acquaintances.
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When requiring an expert quote, use the same procedure discussed, but consider asking for the expert’s availability. Mention how the expert’s work can aid your write-up and any questions you have. Ask for the expert’s professional practice page link and if they are interested, mention how they can have a published expert profile at 7 Cups (you can CC ayesha@7cups.com if needed).
Things To Avoid:
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The overuse of cliches or corny language
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Making it overly formal or using references most wouldn’t understand
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Using extraneous words/phrases. For example, you don’t have to write, “it’s important to…” If you’re writing it, the reader will assume it’s important. Unless, of course, it really is a surprise that this piece of advice is important - in which case say that
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Forgetting to explain the “why”
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Repeating the same word or phrase often (unless intentional, i.e. in an article about a mantra you might repeat the mantra several times)
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Overusing exclamation points
Activity
Using the information you just learned, write a paragraph (minimum of 100 words) for the article topic “Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic” - as this is only a paragraph and NOT the complete article, state a brief heading which will inform the reader whether your paragraph is about a general introduction or something more specific. Ensure your paragraph contains facts. Please note that you are to mention your sources too, as well as a link to at least one source within the paragraph.
Bonus: Consider using previous discussions to research and use keywords.
Additionally, reply to at least one other student and highlight the strengths of their work as well as areas for improvement.
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This post is brought to you by the Content Development and Marketing Program, find out more information about the program here
@SoulfullyAButterfly
@blissfulForest7074
It looks like my answer was posted twice 😲😬😅
@blissfulForest7074
Hello! I really love your article. It's sweet and simple. I also love that this article is not too detailed and not too general for someone to read.
If I could suggest, you could add bullets or numbers when stating your points as it could make your article more organized- it is also easier for our readers who is rushing or like to skim read.
So I think you've done great writing this article. Looking forward for your next article! Keep going and keep writing!
![_1660054169.CDM Mentor tag[10].png](http://7cupstearesources.s3.amazonaws.com/forum/img/_1660054169.CDM%20Mentor%20tag%5B10%5D.png)
@blissfulForest7074
I liked your straightforward approach: activity and insight. I agree - be mindful. I took a slightly different approach putting a lot of links on my buzzwords. I like this approach because it is informative and easy to digest. Thank you!
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
by admirableRose261
Have you gotten used to seeing fewer people in your day to day yet? How are you handling it? Since the pandemic began, there were countless ways people were being innovative to offer quality care and needed technologies to ease the effects of the pandemic in our society. Some examples are Zoom, 988, the Mental Health Crisis life line, at home COVID testing kits, and the first COVID vaccine. Yet, what have we done to mitigate the effects of quarantine and being chronically ill such as loneliness?
If you have read any blogs on mental wellness, you might have heard the term "self-care". Self-care is an umbrella term for any action taken to increase happiness, ease, and calm. Intuitively, we combat loneliness with distractions; another TV show, podcast, or phone call to family members. It can seem bleak waiting 14 or more days to go outside, walk at a distance, and cover our smiles with a mask. Which might leave you wondering: what is the best way to cope with loneliness during the pandemic?
Be active and mindful! Don't let yourself panic or go into a lull. Have a good time! Eat Healthy! Keep a schedule with time for sleep and planned activities including walks, virtual hangouts, check ins, and helping older neighbors with technology or errands. Attend online cultural events like museum strolls and music concerts for free through Eventbrite or here.
The best way to stay healthy is to keep yourself engaged and active! Be thoughtful of your time and gracious with those around you. Wash your hands, follow mandates, reach out to others for information and guidance. Be willing to help those in quarantine with errands using standard precautions. Because at the end of the day, maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and others is the greatest act of self-love and self-care we can manage.
Resources:
Lawler, M., Byrne, C., Jesner, L., Carstensen, M., Zapata, K., Haupt, A., Lucey, K., Phillips, Q., & Revelant, J. (2021, May 19). What is self-care and why is it critical for your health? EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/
Managing isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 | Mass.gov. (n.d.). Www.mass.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2022, from https://www.mass.gov/info-details/managing-isolation-and-loneliness-during-covid-19#creative-ways-to-manage-isolation-and-loneliness-
9 Cultural Activities You Can Experience Virtually. (2020, March 26). HowStuffWorks. https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/destinations/landmarks/places-of-interest/virtual-cultural-activities.htm
Hi, @admirableRose261 <3
Your post is chock full of powerful tips and it's wonderful to read about them! I wish I have your skills for citation. That's always been my weakness since I was in uni!
Great job! <3
@admirableRose261
Wow! Your article is really professional! I love the way you've organised the references, as well as the picture you've put in. Your article has really good suggestions to cope with loneliness. It would have been even better if there was an empathetic tone too. :)
@admirableRose261
Incredibly well done. Loved the picture at the beginning too. A lot of good tips.
Are all the things you linked in the post linked at the end too?
@admirableRose261
I love the tips, they're very handy!
@admirableRose261 Hey there. It looks like we detected plagiarism in your article. Please kindly rewrite and recreate a new article for this topic as plagiarism is not a way in producing our own article. Please keep in mind that we're looking forward for originality and uniqueness out of it. Let me know if you need any assistance if you have troubles writing and creating this article.
![_1663001084.CDM Mentor tag[10].png](http://7cupstearesources.s3.amazonaws.com/forum/img/_1663001084.CDM%20Mentor%20tag%5B10%5D.png)
@secrecykhasya
I did not plagiarize. I'm concerned. I will correct the issue.
@secrecykhasya
Where is there plagerism?
@secrecykhasya
I used two plagiarism checkers and there was no plagiarism detected. Which did you use?
Thanks. I also reached out to ayesha and soulfullybutterfly.
This is the middle part of the article:
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According to www.mass.gov, these are the ways to manage isolation and loneliness during the pandemic.
Check in with loved ones. When far away with people you care about, go the extra mile and try to regularly check in on them. While all of us are experiencing loneliness and isolation in varying degrees, it is important to channel all those energies into something more productive. Start by reaching out to your loved ones on a regular basis. This will not only benefit them but your own mental health as well.
Schedule virtual sessions with friends and families. If you’re not the type to have regular check-ins with family and friends, schedule virtual sessions with them. Conversations between people you care about no matter how short will do wonders for you.
Be active. Another way to channel your energies is to be active. With the help of online tutorials, there are tons of videos that can be found on the internet. Dance classes, Zumba routines, cardio and flexibility exercises… you name it! There are also mobile applications that can help you be more active so take advantage of those.
Offer help and assistance to less able-bodied people around you. We all have neighbours who need assistance for various reasons. Offer help to them; when you buy groceries, pay your bills, or when you’re just going out to buy yourself something for dinner, knock on your neighbor’s door especially the elderly ones and offer to include their errands. You not only make someone feel better but you earn a new friend.
Take note of when to use social media. While social media is a great avenue to keep in touch with friends and family from all over the world, according to www.forbes.com, it has its harmful effects on mental health. It makes people addicted, it triggers more sadness because people tend to compare themselves to the lifestyles of those on their friends’ list, and sometimes ignite feelings of jealousy which is mentally unhealthy among others.
Search for available resources online. If you find yourself having difficulties in coping with loneliness and isolation, you can find resources available online to help you process your thoughts and emotions. You can visit us at www.7cups.com and find an active listener to talk to or join our discussions on our forums or group chat rooms.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Feeling lonely in quarantine? It’s normal and okay to feel lonely when faced with staying indoors and being forced to interact with lesser people than usual, especially when there is a constant fear of catching the virus. These factors could increase the chances of developing mental health issues. According to a report from 2017, social isolation and loneliness can be linked to poor mental and physical health. Though, the good news is, you CAN cope with this, and even feel better!
Here are some tips for you:
Remember to stay active: spending weeks of isolation with no exercise can be detrimental to your coping abilities. Practicing yoga and trying out workouts can be ways to stay active.
Connect with others: Traditional and techy ways of communication is a great way to stay in contact with your loved ones. Explore and experiment with new ways of staying in touch with friends and family.
Work on projects: Write a story or a blog, paint something, or work on your crochet skills. Try something new and find your hidden talents!
Try distracting yourself: Reread some of your favourite books, binge your favourite shows snuggled up with the comfiest pillows, engage yourself in challenging games like crossword puzzles, sudoku or online chess.
How many of these suggestions do you think you could try out?
Always remember, you are loved. You are amazing. And you matter!
Links: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus-4799661
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/coronavirus/coping-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus/
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Has Covid really made us more lonely?
We have all heard around that the pandemic and lockdown has made us all more lonely but there is a difference between haing to social distance and feeling lonely as Mareike Ernst said in his article "Social isolation means having small social network and few interactions with others, while loneliness is the painful feeling of having less or poorer quality social connections than a person wants" so how many of us are really lonely and how many are just tired of being isolated? Anyway as we go on the number of people that feels lonely grows and we have to cope with that. The number of meeting apps has grown and more old people have learned how to use a phone. Workers if they can use a computer but try to stay in contact. We all have our ways to cope depending on where we start.
- Learning to use a phone
- Staying in contact during smart working
- Meeting apps
Some have found 7 cups to deal with loneliness where they found a listening ear.
The fact is that studies in more developed countries say that not many of us are really lonely.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2022/05/covid-19-increase-loneliness a study by Mareike Ernst and others
@SoulfullyAButterfly
How to tell you're lonely
Loneliness is a terrible feeling. Making sure you are among people can sometimes help for a while. But for those who feel lonely often and strongly, that's not enough. Loneliness does not go away by itself.
You can usually do something about loneliness. For example, by trying to make new contacts. Or by improving existing contacts. Is this easy? Maybe for some people, but not for others. It is a matter of perseverance and often taking several steps - until the right one is found.
Loneliness is sadly something you have to deal with yourself. Help from the environment can help, but ultimately you have to try to break through the loneliness yourself. Without your own efforts and motivation you will not succeed. If only because others on the outside cannot see that you feel lonely. This is why it's important to communicate your feelings to others.
@Ninziesss
I like your inclusion of a rhetorical question to create a conversational tone. I also like how you acknowledge that it can be difficult to cope with loneliness --- helps connect with the readers. The use of short sentences also makes it easier for the reader to process. Good job!
Maybe it could be helpful to include references to further strengthen your piece. Also, you may consider using a softer tone in the future because the final paragraph may make the reader feel even more lonely since you’re telling them loneliness is something they need to “deal with yourself”.
@Ninziesss
Hey there :) I like the way of your writing style! it's really suitable to open up a discussion with others and telling our opinions about it.
I hope that you could focus more on the our topic which is "How to cope with loneliness during pandemic" and let us know which links are you using as reference to that you've put in your article.
Keep writing and keep going. Looking forward for your upcoming article!
![_1663087826.CDM Mentor tag[10].png](http://7cupstearesources.s3.amazonaws.com/forum/img/_1663087826.CDM%20Mentor%20tag%5B10%5D.png)
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
Step 1: Embrace your alone time
When you are lonely,embrace it. Do things you can only do by yourself. Dance around your room to music. Spend time in prayer or mediation. Workout and do yoga. Read a long book. Learn to appreciate the time you have to be alone. 💜
Step 2: Don't wait for someone to connect with you- connect with them!
When you're lonely, ask yourself if you're doing anything about it. No one can help you if they don't know about your loneliness. Don't wait for others to reach out to you. Call someone out the blue. FaceTime people. Send a handwritten letter. Connect here on 7 cups. 💜
Step 3: Practice extra self care
Loneliness relates strongly to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Make sure to take good care of yourself if you're feeling lonely. For example, take a bubble bath and do a face mask. Treat yourself to a dessert or fancy coffee. Sleep in. Whatever you need to do for yourself, do it. 💜
@jasmineishereforu
Strength
Simple words and ways, making easy to read, understand and follow.
Mentioning 7 cups if great gesture in providing help.
Point-wise mention makes it more readable.
Can improve
Could attach few citations of articles to read about.
Could use some words of empathy
It looked like some direct words of advice, which could have been avoided.
on the whole, it looked simple and good. Keep up the good work.
@jasmineishereforu
Hey there! It looks like we have detected plagiarism in your article. Please keep in mind to keep your article original and unique. And please state the resources and links that you've used to create your article in the post at least one or two of them. Please rewrite and recreate a new article for this topic. Let me know if you need any assistance regarding it.
![_1663088667.CDM Mentor tag[10].png](http://7cupstearesources.s3.amazonaws.com/forum/img/_1663088667.CDM%20Mentor%20tag%5B10%5D.png)
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Coping with Loneliness During COVID-19 Pandemic
Loneliness during pandemic turned out to be a social issue that affected all beyond borders and classes, making everyone equally victimized. Everyone was not the same, some fought back strong, some failed, some stayed silent and others tried various other ways. It made the world to stop a little and concentrate on self care and growth. Some simple steps can be taken like, try to embrace yourself and hope for the best, try connecting with people known or unknown and get involved in interactions, give more time to think about your lifestyle and growth physically, mentally, emotionally [1]. You are the master of your life, so it is you who got to take up on ways to overcome loneliness [2]. You know which is better for you, unless you speak out no one will know what you are undergoing. There is always a soul to listen and support you.
[1] Heinrich, L.M. and Gullone, E., 2006. The clinical significance of loneliness: A literature review. Clinical psychology review, 26(6), pp.695-718.
[2] Cacioppo, J.T. and Cacioppo, S., 2018. The growing problem of loneliness. The Lancet, 391(10119), p.426.
@sweetchildbsk
Nicely written paragraph. I like how it mentions that everyone is connected in a way.
Three positives - It is clear and concise, coping strategies are defined as facts and the sources are mentioned.
Improvement - An addition of link in the paragraph would be a benefit.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Loneliness is defined as a state of distress caused by an unsatisfied desire for social contact. Loneliness is a common feeling for many of us right now, as the Covid-19 pandemic makes it ever more challenging to spend time with everyone around us. In fact, according to Statista [i], up to 33% of adults worldwide admitted to feeling lonely in 2021.
Loneliness is not a sign of weakness, nor is it limited to the elderly. Because loneliness is subjective, some of us can be surrounded by people and still feel isolated, while others might live solitary lives and feel the exact opposite.
Despite our physical isolation, the internet is an excellent medium for establishing and maintaining social connections from the convenience of our homes. According to a study conducted by Barak et al. (2008) [ii], individuals who participated in online communities and support groups reported feeling more socially connected and empowered.
So, where can you begin? Discord community servers allow you to browse servers by topic and cover topics ranging from 'Kpop' to 'sports' and many more, so you're sure to find a server that interests you. We also have Sharing Circles at 7 Cups that can help users cope with loneliness or a lack of support in their daily lives.
❤️ Thank you for this informative post! ❤️
❤️ Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic ❤️
❤️ The pandemic: more than a virus ❤️
❤️ The social impact of the coronavirus pandemic presents a level of loneliness that society never encountered before. According to surveys from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 54% of respondents reported feeling more lonely since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, the Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom explained that areas with a higher conentration of younger people tended to have higher rates of loneliness during the pandemic. As someone who, like you, went through this extremely tough situation, I'd like to tell you that you are not alone. Your feelings are valid: you are going through a global disaster, and being affected by it is only natural. As a matter of fact, the World Health Organization stated that the pandemic triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide: you deserve a better mental health. That is why the next section of this article will explain how 7 Cups and other sources of support can help you to cope during this challenging time. We are here for you! ❤️
