How to Use This Guide

  • Within this section of the guide, you will find resources for general mental health and coping
  • Highly recommended resources are denoted with a star (★)
  • Each resource also notes practical recommendations or strategies to help
  • This guide is a "living document" and may be continually updated over time. The date of last update is 9/22/20.

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General Mental Health & Coping Summary

In times of stress and uncertainty, a number of strategies can be helpful for maintaining well-being and promoting resilience. The uncertainties and specific restrictions related to the COVID-19 outbreak present particular challenges. For example, recent research has strongly supported two strategies for preventing or mitigating depressive and anxiety-related symptoms: promoting social connectedness and physical activity. In the current environment, necessary restrictions such as social distancing, self-quarantining and other measures can make this challenging. As such, we may need to be intentional about finding ways to reduce social isolation (for example: through virtual meetings, text and other messaging, or phone calls) and to engage in regular physical activity.

The resources highlighted below emphasize several evidence-based self-care and coping strategies. In addition to staying connected to others and keeping up physical activity, these include maintaining pillars of well-being such as regular sleep patterns and healthy eating, as well as limiting excessive exposure to distressing media and practicing stress management techniques such as mindfulness and deep breathing. For those with symptoms of significant stress or impairing anxiety, it is helpful to recommend professional support as needed.

In this guide:

Recommendations

Resource: Managing Stress: Tips for Coping with the Stress of COVID-19 ★
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Key Points:

  • Stress-related reactions may include: changes in concentration/thinking/memory; feeling tense/irritable/anxious; changes in energy/appetite/sleep; social withdrawal, reduced productivity, interpersonal conflict. Some individuals may be more susceptible to stress during an outbreak, including those with prior mental health conditions. 
  • Coping strategies include:
    1. Staying connected with family/friends/community in creative ways
    2. Managing challenging emotions with acceptance, mindfulness, relaxation, soothing and/or pleasurable activities
    3. Avoiding unhelpful coping strategies like substance use, rumination/constant worrying, high-risk behavior
    4. Engaging in positive lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity and eating healthy, using acceptance, re-framing, and problem-solving as needed
    5. Practicing sleep hygiene

Resource: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Manage Anxiety & Stress
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Key Points:

  • Stress-related reactions to an outbreak may include: worry, changes in eating/sleeping, physical symptoms, substance use
  • Coping strategies include:
    1. Taking media breaks
    2. Maintaining healthy behaviors
    3. Engaging in relaxing activities
    4. Connecting with others
  • Tailored recommendations for:

Resource: Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak
Source: World Health Organization

Key Points:

  • Tailored guidance for specific groups, including general population; healthcare workers; health facility leaders; caregivers for children; older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions; and quarantined individuals
  • General recommendations:
    1. Avoiding blame/stigma of others
    2. Reducing excessive media exposure and consuming from reputable sources
    3. Finding ways to help others and contribute to community during this time
    4. Amplifying positive stories and messages
    5. Recognizing service efforts of health care workers
  • Recommendations for older adults and other vulnerable individuals:
    1. Accessing simple and clear information
    2. Planning ahead where to get practical help like food delivery, transport, medicines
    3. Performing simple physical exercises at home
    4. Maintaining regular routines where possible
  • Quarantined individuals recommendations:
    1. Staying connected to social networks virtually (e.g., phone, Internet)
    2. Acknowledging needs and feelings and maintaining self-care practices during quarantine
    3. Limiting excessive media exposure during this time
  • Illustrated coping recommendations: View here » 

Resource: Coronavirus and Mental Health: Taking Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Source: American Psychiatric Association

Key Points:

  • Stress-related reactions to an outbreak may include: sleep changes; decreased sense of safety; substance use; physical symptoms; fear and blame
  • Coping recommendations include:
    1. Staying informed via reputable sources
    2. Practicing preventive hygiene behaviors
    3. Limiting media exposure and correcting misinformation
    4. Anticipating and addressing stress reactions via self-care strategies such as daily routines, enjoyable activities, social support, physical activity

Resource: COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub
Source: Psych Hub

Key Points:

  • Collection of COVID-19 resources across different organizations (e.g., American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance for Mental Illness, American Psychological Association), oriented at individuals, employers, and health providers

Resource: COVID-19 Behavioral Health Information Hub
Source: Network of Care Massachusetts

Key Points:

  • Online resource hub for practical resources to support behavioral and mental health during COVID-19, ranging from mental health, suicide prevention, violence and abuse, healthcare coverage, financial and housing issues

Expert Strategies

Resource: Mental Health & COVID-19 Series
Source: The Lancet Psychiatry, Mental Health Innovation Network, MHPSS.net and United for Global Mental Health

Key Points:

  • Webinar series (with recordings and notes) including “How to support Patients and Caregivers”, “Workplace Mental Health”, “People in Vulnerable Situations”, etc.

Resource: COVID-19 Mental Health Forum Series
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Key Points:

Resource: Cognitive Behavioral Strategies to Manage Anxiety: Tools to Build Resilience ★
Source: Massachusetts General Hospital

Key Points:

  • Dr. Luana Marques of the Mass General Center for Anxiety & Traumatic Stress Disorders, and president of the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, delivered a Psychiatry Grand Rounds lecture on March 19, 2020
  • Suggested resilience strategies included:
    • “Cooling the brain” by practicing mindfulness, limiting excessive media exposure, adjusting to a new norm
    • Attending to basic needs by paying attention to exercise, sleep hygiene, regular eating
    • Staying connected with others
  • Linked webinar series on:
    1. The role of anxiety
    2. Slowing down the brain
    3. Charging up and staying connected

    4. Exploring thoughts

Resource: Calm in the Time of Coronavirus ★
Source: Benson-Henry Mind Body Institute

Key Points:

Resource: Managing Relationships in a Time of Social Distancing
Source: Lifespan Research Foundation

Resource: COVID-19 Mental Health Resources
Source: McLean Hospital

Key Points: 

  • Webinars and articles from our expert colleagues at McLean for managing mental health and practicing self-care during the coronavirus pandemic

Resource: Coronavirus Anxiety: Daily Updates
Source: Dr. Jud Brewer

Key Points: 

Further Reads

Resource: 10 Mental Health Tips for Coronavirus Social Distancing
Source: Mass General & Partners in Health; Dr. Giuseppe Raviola

Key Points:

  • Coping strategies include
    1. Maintaining connections despite social distancing
    2. Establishing routines
    3. Exercising
    4. Learning and intellectual engagement
    5. Positive family time
    6. Focused meditation and relaxation
    7. Limiting exposure to internet/TV news
    8. Maintaining a sense of humor and avoid catastrophizing
    9. Positive self-talk
    10. Living in the moment rather than projecting future worries

Resource: “FACE COVID”
Source: Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap

Key Points:

  • Practical steps based on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy:
    • F=focusing on what’s in your control
    • A=acknowledging thoughts & feelings
    • C=coming back into your body
    • E=engaging in what you’re doing
    • C=committed action
    • O=opening up
    • V=values
    • I=identifying resources
    • D=disinfecting & distancing

Resource: Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety
Source: Harvard Health Blog

Key Points:

  • Coping strategies include:
    1. Connecting with loved ones virtually
    2. Relying on reputable sources of information
    3. Limiting excessive information intake
    4. Engaging in preventive hygiene practices
    5. Engaging in relaxation via yoga, meditation or deep breathing, and practicing self-care
    6. Asking: Where does anxiety show up in the body? How anxious am I? What do I fear most? What usually helps?

Resource: 7 Science-based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety
Source: The Conversation

Key Points:

  • Coping strategies include:
    1. Practicing tolerance of uncertainty
    2. Accepting and mindfully noticing anxiety, rather than fighting it
    3. Connecting to a higher purpose or cause
    4. Remembering humans are resilient
    5. Not overestimating threat and reducing excessive media exposure
    6. Strengthening self-care and healthy lifestyle practices like sleep, exercise and relaxation techniques
    7. Seeking professional help as needed

Resource: That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief
Source: Harvard Business Review

Key Points: 

  • David Kessler, author and founder of grief.com, is interviewed about coping with grief about the loss of safety and normalcy during this pandemic
  • Recommendations include:
    1. Recognizing stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, acceptance, meaning), which may not be linear
    2. Finding balance between good and bad in our thoughts and images
    3. Coming back to the present moment
    4. Letting go and focusing on what can be controlled
    5. Practicing compassion for others who may be expressing how they feel differently from you
    6. Naming the grief and allowing feelings to happen

Helpful Hotlines

If you have comments or would like to suggest an addition to the guide, contact Karmel Choi, PhD and Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD.

Guide to Mental Health Resources for COVID-19

Type

Centers and Departments

Topics

For Families & Children

An outbreak can affect the entire family, and special attention to the needs and stressors of children and their caregivers is warranted.

View the guide

Health Care Providers

Resources have been developed specifically to highlight the mental health needs of health care workers during this outbreak.

View the guide

Specific Mental Health Conditions

These resources provide a range of expert-recommended strategies for individuals dealing with or at risk for mental health conditions.

View the guide

For Military Families and Veterans

The Home Base Program at Mass General Hospital offers free mental health services and support for veterans, service members and their families.

Learn More