Amid the <a href="https://vt.co/news/world/coronavirus-outbreak-labelled-as-pandemic-by-world-health-organization/">coronavirus pandemic</a>, Canada has sparked a "caremongering" social trend, and we could all learn from it. As the name suggests, caremongering is the opposite of scaremongering, which has, unfortunately, dominated the news and social media in recent weeks, making people even more anxious in what is already a difficult situation. This anxiety, for many, has resulted in panic buying which has led to a severe shortage of many essential goods including toilet roll, tinned food and pasta, leaving those without the means to bulk buy, and those less physically able without the things they need. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/futureofgood/status/1239906100805238784]] The term caremoingering was created by Canadians on social media to describe their efforts to help each other out during this difficult time. Now, Valentina Harper, a Toronto resident who set up one of the first caremongering Facebook groups with her friend Mita Hans has explained exactly what it's all about so others can follow Canada's lead. Arnold Schwarzenegger feeds his ponies while urging fans to stop going outside amid coronavirus: [[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/QgnD8vfZ-sKUnNGKf.mp4||QgnD8vfZ]] In an interview with the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51915723">BBC</a>, she said "Scaremongering is a big problem. We wanted to switch that around and get people to connect on a positive level, to connect with each other. "It's spread the opposite of panic in people, brought out community and camaraderie, and allowed us to tackle the needs of those who are at-risk all the time - now more than ever." These Italian neighbors uplifted each other by singing during the coronavirus lockdown:  [[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/NvqXiIwu-izxriqNH.mp4||NvqXiIwu]] "We thought we'd have a couple dozen people," Harper said. "It's grown to thousands.'' "But the most positive thing is the local groups that have started, geared to specific neighbourhoods. It's really shown us the need that people have to have some level of reassurance and hope." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/kiwinerd/status/1239941086795255808]] She continued: "Anxiety, isolation and lack of hope affects you. In providing this virtual community which allows people to help each other, I think it is really showing people there is still hope for humanity. We haven't lost our hope." One example of caremongering is reaching out to neighbors who may be self-isolating and offering them help. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158040253793149&set=a.10150385862148149&type=3]] Paul Viennau, who received help when he joined the Halifax caremongering group, said that the support it provided him with "felt like a hug". "There's a lot of negative things about social media," he told the BBC. "It's a place that can make you feel isolated normally. This is an opportunity to people to reach out and help each other. "I have had a disability for the last 29 years, plus a compromised immune system. I live on hand sanitiser in normal circumstances. I started to worry about running out three days ago." A friend then joined the group in search of the hand sanitiser, and it wasn't long before a kind stranger came through for Paul. He subsequently joined the group to say thank you. So, why not join your local caremongering group? And if there isn't one yet, now is a fantastic time to set one up!

Canada sparks 'caremongering' social trend and we could all learn from it

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