BY: CLAIRE KIM
Pressured by the Pandemic? Here is a list of resources to reach out to if you need consolation or conversation.
With so much uncertainty in the air right now, feeling pressured or scared is normal. Seeing the numbers in coronavirus cases rise every hour and hearing fellow family members are testing positive is tough to take in, and I completely understand that. I myself struggle with the unpredictability of the coronavirus, unsure of what to do or follow at times with the chaos present in our world.
Though short in content today, I hope that these resources can help anyone, even one person out there who needs mental health support during this time of the pandemic.
1. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline: 1-800-622-HELP (4357)
2. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish
3. Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
4. Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/About/Contact_Info/Index.aspx
5. Mental Health and COVID-19 – Information and Resources: https://mhanational.org/covid19
* This site has hundreds of resources for those struggling during the pandemic. Please take advantage of them!
Also, along with hotlines and chat services, for those interested in individual therapy, downloading health & wellness apps onto your smartphone is a great idea as well. Here are some of my favorite meditation apps to help calm the senses and relax the mind in times of stress:
1. Headspace: Meditation & Sleep (highly recommend)
2. Moodpath: Depression & Anxiety (reflect on your thoughts and emotions)
3. Stoic: Mental Health Training (philosophy guided journaling, one of my absolute favorite ways to slow down and ponder in relative time)
4. Youper – Feel your best: Self-Care Based on Therapy (it’s like having a pocket AI therapist, convenient yet effective)
5. Calm: Meditation and Sleep Stories (honestly, so relaxing)
claire kim. 