Finding Support During Trying Times – Tips and Resources to Stay Connected
During these times of uncertainty many of us are experiencing feelings of worry. However, each person and community could be facing vastly different challenges. Whether it be job security, social isolation, health concerns or a variety of other challenges, every one of them has the potential to impact our mental health. Even so, there is a lot we can do to take care of ourselves and stay connected with others.
It is important to lean on each other and our communities for support and resources. In doing so, we can create a network of safety and well-being.
We have asked our Each Mind Matters social media community to tell us which resources have been most helpful to them during this time which we are listing here to share with you more broadly.
We also suggest reading and sharing our Tips for Self-Care During COVID-19, and taking a look back at our blog Community Connections in Times of Physical Separation. Be sure to keep checking back for more COVID-19 related information and resources.
Remember, we will get through this – together.
COVID-19 Resources:
- EDD Information for people who are laid off, sick, or caring for family members.
- Covered CA is extending its open enrollment to those eligible through June 30.
- SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Line: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Teen Line: Text “TEEN” to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PST for teen-to-teen education and support.
- The Peer-Run Warm Line: 855-845-7415 for peer-run non-emergency emotional support.
- Older Californians can stay connected with their communities during isolation, and receive help accessing food or medical supplies by calling 833-544-2374.
- CDC: Mental Health & Coping During COVID-19
- CDC: Stigma and Resilience During COVID-19
- CDC: Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
- SAMHSA: Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- SAMHSA: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak – Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation
User-Generated Resources, Tips and Tools:
Connecting with Others:
- Connect with others virtually face-to-face. There’s a number of free video conferencing options to keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers.
Entertainment:
- In an effort to continue providing opera to its audience members, the Metropolitan Opera is hosting ‘Nightly Met Opera Streams’ featuring encores of past performances.
- Visit Museums: Google Arts and Culture have partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to provide virtual tours of their space.
- Explore National Parks: Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park: Surround yourself in nature without the traveling.
- You can take a virtual tour of one of the world’s great wonders, The Great Wall of China, from the comfort of your home.
- Dreaming of warmer weather? Using Google Earth, users can now take a tour of some of Hawaii’s beautiful landmarks, including beaches and volcanoes.
Resources for Kids and Parents:
- Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource.
- Free Online Audio Books: At Audible, you can find hundreds of titles handpicked to entertain, engage and inform young people ages 0 – 18, available completely free.
- Free Kids Educational Resources: There’s 200 free videos, lessons, apps, books, websites and more.
- Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep children reading, thinking, and learning.
- Daily Lunch Doodles: Daily virtual videos where kids can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing.
- Free Online Dance Classes: Designed for kids in pre-k through 5th grade, kids can learn more dance moves such as the Irish step. There are even some dances for grown-ups too!
- Does your family have a self-care activity you want to share with others? Check out or My Green is Lime Green Self-Care Contest!
To learn more and stay up to date about COVID-19 news and other mental health information, subscribe to the Each Mind Matters newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.