There’s been a lot of folks asking whether now is the right time to invest, considering the stock market plunged into bear market territory and stocks are cheaper than they would be under normal circumstances.  “I don't think there's value in spending a lot of emotional energy on worrying about investments,” Brown said.  “I think there's value in knowing there's money set aside, in case this disruption lasts longer than people are expecting.” For those who are in the position where they may need to tap into their existing investments to survive the next couple of months, Brown urges people not to be ashamed of that. “Don't feel any shame if you need to sell a small portion of your portfolio to reinforce your emergency fund or to give you some security. Focus on your own health, the wellbeing of your friends and family and your mental health, as opposed to wondering when you wake up is the market going to be up 10% or down 10%.” Dealing with financial anxiety during the covid-19 outbreak is a new territory for everyone, even the pros.  “I don't think panicking or reacting to the news is a helpful approach,” Brown said.  “Focus on your own health and don’t pay attention to the day-to-day changes in the market.”  Moorhouse added, “Everyone else is going through this exact same thing. It's not like you have to cut back and everyone else is just living their best lives going through this.   “One thing I found really helpful is talking to other people. Set up a special messaging group with some friends and have a check-in partner. We're all in this together. We're supporting each other.”