Mental Health Resources During COVID-19 Pandemic

Website launched to offer Michigan residents free mental health resources during COVID-19 pandemic:
Website offers meditation and mindfulness content curated for Michiganders at no cost
Link to Article with Detailed Information
Mental Health During COVID-19 for Washtenaw County, Michigan
The following Information is taken directly from the Washtenaw County Health Department website. Link above.
This is a difficult time for everyone. Take some time to take care of your mental health in addition to your physical health. We’re in this together.
- Reach out for support
- Connect with the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health CARES team at 734-544-3050 for support and resources about ANY mental health question. The CARES line remains fully staffed and available 24/7 during the COVID-19 response.
- Text SHARE to the Crisis Text Line at 741741
- Even if you can’t be together physically, let trusted people in your life know about your worries, fears, frustrations, AND plans for self-care.
- Stay connected to your loved ones and community as we engage in social distancing to keep each other safe.
- Call or video-chat family or friends. Science shows that hearing a loved one’s voice comforts the brain.
- Join virtual gatherings, like community meetings or free fitness classes and concerts.
- Notice if you’re not reaching out because of low mood rather than social distancing reasons.
- Check in with someone you trust for a few minutes every day.
- Routines help us feel more grounded when things feel out of our control.
- Staying active with things that feel productive and fun can help us manage the extra stress and anxiety.
- Make a schedule for how you’ll structure today to balance work with time for self-care, relaxation, and (safe/virtual) social connection.
- Limit information overload.
- Set a time limit for focusing on coronavirus anxiety and plan mental health breaks to allow your body and mind time to recharge.
- Get the information you need from the links below. Moderate other news intake and limit exposure to mass hysteria online.
- Most accurate and up-to-date Washtenaw information: www.washtenaw.org/COVID19
- Michigan information: www.michigan.gov/coronavirus
- National information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19
- Global information: www.who.int/coronavirus
- Washtenaw County Health Department social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
- @wishyouknewwashtenaw is sharing coronavirus mental health tips on Instagram.
- Practice deep breathing exercises, mindfullness or other methods of meditation.
- It’s easy for our worries to get ahead of the current moment. As we face uncertainty it’s important to stay grounded in the present.
- Michiganders can access a specially-curated collection of guided meditations, at-home workouts that guide people through mindful exercises, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety. Available at www.headspace.com/MI
- There are also many other meditation and mindfullness apps and online resources. We are not endorsing any products, but here is a list of some free apps:
- Insight Timer - mindfulness to reduce stress, anxiety, improve sleep and relaxation through guided meditations, talks, and music
- Aura - improve sleep and reduce stress, anxiety through meditations, stories, music, and more
- Breethe, Meditation & Sleep - Destress, sleep better, be healthier with meditations and music
- Smiling Mind - guided meditations and mindfulness exercises for kids and adults
- Stop, Breathe & Think - stay tuned in with your emotions and destress through mindfulness and compassion exercises
- The Mindfulness App - relax, calm, focus, sleep
- Clear Fear - helps youth manage anxiety symptoms
- Combined Minds - helps families and friends provide mental health support
- What’s Up – help to cope with depression, anxiety, stress, and more
- Mind Shift - designed for young adults struggling with anxiety
- Happify - mood training program
- MoodTools - supporting people with depression
- Manage Anxiety & Stress During Coronavirus (English, Spanish) - An overview from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that provides tips for people in general, parents, first responders and those released from quarantine:
- Mental Health & COVID-19 - Advice, resources, and messages from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Helping Young Kids through the COVID-19 Crisis - Quick tips from Zero to Thrive and Michigan Medicine Department of Psychiatry
- Parenting During COVID-19 from Psychology Today
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health - tips for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Taking Care of Your Mental Health while Social Distancing, Isolating, or Quarantining - PDF from Washtenaw County Health Department