Learning to hug again: Time to move past elbow bumps for our own mental health

Psychologists say we should move past elbow bumps, for our own mental health and mutual trust. Photo: dpa

A slap on the back, a kiss goodbye, a simple handshake – the passing moments of brief physical contact that come with friendships were mostly lost during the pandemic. Psychologists say we should move past elbow bumps for our own mental health and mutual trust.

Since the coronavirus began settling in our respiratory tracts and upending our lives, we’ve practised social distancing to reduce its spread. We’ve even kept close friends at arm’s length – two arm’s lengths – or avoided in-person interactions altogether, replacing them with video conferences.