Living well during & beyond the coronavirus pandemic
Coping During covid
Social Media
- #IsolateWithOT - Occupational therapists sharing strategies for coping during COVID on Twitter
- #COVIDOccupations - People sharing what they're doing during COVID on Twitter
- Meaningful Occupations to do during Self-Isolation - Facebook page run by Sheffield-Hallam University OT Student, Georgia Vine
Guides, Blogs, and Resources
- Do Live Well - a framework for occupational therapy and health promotion outlining how what people do everyday relates to their wellbeing
- Coping with COVID-19: Group Program Manual - developed by occupational therapy students, Sahithya Balakumar & Caleigh Inman, this is a group program manual with education for coping with COVID-19. It is based in the Do Live Well Framework
- Normal Life has been Disrupted - a guide from OT Australia on coping during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Coronavirus, catastrophizing, and caution - Insightful blog by Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thomson
- Experiencing Occupational Disruption - occupational therapists around the world contribute their perspectives on coping and living during the pandemic through an ever-growing Google Slides presentation
- Staying Happy While Staying at Home: Lessons from Occupational Therapy - Drs. Skye Barbic & Catherine Backman write about strategies people can use to support their wellbeing at home
-Baking bread: Creative outlets helping people find meaning during COVID-19 pandemic, occupational therapist says - Dr. Mary Forhan discusses how creative occupations are helping people cope during COVID
-World Federation of Occupational Therapists: Occupational Therapy in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic - learn about what occupational therapists can offer during and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Podcasts
-“We’ve gOT Your Back
: The Ergo Minute” Podcast Series - Julia and Madison, OT Students at the University of Toronto, will bring you advice from University of Toronto faculty on how to apply ergonomic strategies in your home office. Please note that although ergonomic strategies are helpful for many, many people also safely use "non-ergonomic" strategies and find these to be beneficial - it's all about what works for you.
Videos
- Healthy Lungs Happy Heart by DW Healing Arts : 60 min video with Deanna Waggy, OTR, discussing acupressure points to support our lungs and respiration during cold/flu and allergy season.
- Building Resilience - Dr. Rachel Thibeault - The first of a webinar series promoting building wellbeing resilience during the COVID pandemic. More webinars in the series can be found here
Strategies from Occupational Therapists
- #CopeWithCOVID - People sharing how they're coping on Twitter
- #CopingWithCOVID - People sharing how they're coping on Twitter
- #PandemicProjects - People sharing what they're doing during COVID
- #CrisisComfort - People sharing what they're find soothing during COVID
- My ACT Tool Kit - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) resources provided by Dr. Steven C. Hayes
- Action for Happiness - Action for Happiness helps people take action for a happier and kinder world
- Facing Pandemic Fears with an Awake Heart - Tara Brach Podcast for coping during COVID
- Online stress management and mental health program - access code: SHOPPERS
- Tips for when the news stresses you out - Foundry BC
- Tips for physical distancing - Foundry BC
- Crest BD - online community for guided peer support with COVID anxiety
- Canadian Mental Health Association - CMHA has put together some resources and suggestions to help support your mental health at this time of uncertainty.
- Guided Meditation for figuring out who you want to be and what you want to do in this world - Dr. Steven C. Hayes
- ACT in a Nutshell (cartoon) - Illustrated education about ACT by Dr. Steven C. Hayes & Esther Hayes
- Foundry BC - Here you will find mental health and substance use information, self-checks, tips, apps & tools, resources and stories for young people from young people.
- Tolerance for Uncertainty: A COVID-19 Workbook - Learn to accept your feelings, tolerate distress and move forward with grace despite not knowing what lies ahead.
- Compassion Focused Therapy resources
- listen with the same passion that you want to be heard
- post with humility
- IPA Play in Crisis: Support for Parents and Carers
- Tips for Parents to Keep the Calm at Home (english and Spanish)
- COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub by Jack.org
Stress Management
- Headspace - app with free and paid guided meditations; decreased variety in voices
- Smiling Mind - app with guided meditations
- UCLA Mindful App - Mindfulness App from UCLA
- Calm - free and paid guided meditations and mindfulness activities
- Insight Timer - free collection of meditations from various meditation guides
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation - video guiding you through a progressive muscle relaxation
- Moments of Mindfulness - 5-minute mindful breathing video
- The Om Work Project- Journal prompts, affirmations, yoga, and more
- Breathe App - available on IOS - the Breathe app guides you through a series of deep breaths, and it reminds you to take time to breathe every day. Choose how long you want to breathe, then let the animation and gentle taps help you focus.
- Buddhify - The central idea in buddhify is that you don’t have to find time for meditation, instead it comes to you. That is why all our meditations are categorised by what you’re doing or how you’re feeling.
- Sounds True Half Day Retreat - Join Dr. Tara Brach & Dr. Jack Kornfield in learning self-compassion and self-kindness
- The Good Trade - 99 ways to add mindfulness to your day
- 3 Free seminars with Chris Germer PhD & Kristin Neff PhD ~ Self-compassion, motivation, resilient, confidence an moments of suffering to love
- Deep Focus music - music that you may find helpful for staying focused
- F*ck That: An Honest Meditation - a meditation for people who find it easier to do guided meditations when there are swear words thrown in
- Listen (and sing-along) to music that you find calming
- Practice a guided relaxation meditation
- Read a comforting book
- Cuddle with your partner
- Cosy up under the blankets
- Write a letter to a friend
- Hug your roommates & people you live with
- Practice deep breathing
- Journal
- Practice gratitude
- Reflect on lows and highs of the day
- Stroke a beloved pet
Relaxation Strategies
Canada
- 310Mental Health Support (BC) - 310-6789
- Bounce Back (BC) - 1-866-639-0522
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre (BC)- 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
- KUU-US Crisis Response Service (BC)- Adults/Elders (250-723-4050), Child/Youth (250-723-2040), Toll Free Line (18005888717).
- Here to Help (BC)
- Need2 (BC)
- Youthspace.ca (BC)
- Vancouver Island Crisis Line - 811
- Canadian Crisis Line Directory by Province
UK
- Samaritan’s: 116 123; or email [email protected]
Australia
- Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Austria
- 017133374
USA
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255
- For people who have hearing/speech-impairments: 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889)
- Anxiety & Depression Support
More countries coming soon.
If you know your country's crisis lines, please let us know at [email protected]
Crisis Lines
- The Coronavirus Helpful Hub
- COVID-19 Printable Poster Kit : Free Everyday Checklist, 7 min workout, etc.
Learn about Coronavirus
- BC Centre for Disease Control - Find information about COVID-19, how to protect yourself, your family and your community and what to do if you suspect you have the virus. Non-medical information about COVID-19 is available 7:30am-8pm, 7 days a week at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319).
- World Health Organization (WHO) - information from the World Health Organization about the Coronavirus
- John Hopkins University - Coronavirus Resource Center - This website is a resource to help advance the understanding of the virus, inform the public, and brief policymakers in order to guide a response, improve care, and save lives.
- WHO: Coronavirus Mythbusters - Having a hard time know the difference between a conspiracy theory and the facts about COVID? The World Health Organization has a resource for you to check your facts here.
- World Health Organization: Coronavirus Q&A - answers to common questions about the Coronavirus from the World Health Organization
- Coronavirus and Staying Safe - A short video helping those with communication difficulties understand how to stay safe (United Kingdom guidelines). Alex Kelly uses Makaton and symbols to help explain 5 important things to remember
- Pause sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies, restrict contact to stop COVID-19, say Indigenous doctors - information from Indigenous doctors in Canada
- CDC: COVID-19 - the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- COVID-19 Health Literacy Project - Information about COVID-19 in 30+ languages and for multiple age groups
Is there a right way to worry about coronavirus? And other mental health tips - The Guardian
TU 117 - Resilience trauma and the brain - Bruce Perry
Unlocking Us - Brené Brown
Fact & Feeling for Now - Gillie Easdon
Patricia Obee, RCC
Beyond Blue
A handy guide to keeping your sh*t together during COVID-19
