The COVID-19 pandemic is a strange and challenging event and it's a perfectly normal response to feel worried or anxious. We may have to practice social distancing right now, but that doesn't mean we have to go through the crisis alone or without taking steps to watch our mental health. This page will list resources that hopefully might be able to help you get through the pandemic. The page is split into different sections covering:
Some simple suggestions to reduce stress
Perhaps one or more of these suggestions will work for you:
- Try to reduce time spent on social media and the Internet in general. There's some evidence that spending time on social media sites increases stress levels, which in turn, leads to more social media use (and more stress...) There's a lot of negativity around at the moment; you don't have to actively seek it out. If you are online, try to do useful or fun stuff like...
- Stay connected with your classmates, friends: and family: think about organising online meetings/study groups/virtual coffees or some other kind of activity. If you have Netflix, there's an app for the Chrome browser called Netflix Party which lets you have virtual movie or TV nights.
- Try and get a good night's sleep - the following might help:
- Change your diet. A healthier diet will improve how you feel.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Eat less processed food
- Drink less alcohol
- Get out the house and do a little exercise. Exercise boosts energy levels, increases concentration, and strengthens your heart. Exercise also makes you feel better. You don't have to run a marathon, a 30 minute walk is enough.
- Try a relaxation technique like deep breathing, or meditation.
- Talk to someone - don't bottle up how you feel. Talk to your friends or family members. Even if they can't give you good advice, they can listen and sometimes that's enough. Does your college or training centre have a support or counselling service? Talk to them.
- Go easy on yourself right now: you're not working or studying at home - you're staying at home during a time of crisis and trying to get a little work or study done.
Organisations that can help
Alone
- Alone support older people at home.
- They have a dedicated COVID-19 support line
- Call 0818 222 024 (from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week)
Aware
- Aware provides support & information for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder and their concerned loved ones
- Freephone Support Line 1800 80 48 48 (from 10am to 10pm every day)
Barnados
- Barnardos has launched a national telephone support service for parents in response to the challenges they are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Freephone 1800 910 123 (from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday)
BeLonG To
- BeLonG To provide support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland
- Text LGBTI+ to 086 1800 280 for 24/7 support (standard SMS rates may apply)
Bodywhys
- Bodywhys provides support and information services to people affected by eating disorders
- BodywhysConnect online support groups for adults (19+) with eating disorders
- YouthConnect online support groups for young people aged 13-18
- Helpline 01 2107906 (Monday, Wednesday and Sunday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and Saturday from 10.30am to 12.30pm)
Crisis Text Line
- is an anonymous 24/7 messaging support service with trained volunteers available to listen to people going through a tough time.
- Text MHR to 086 1800 280 (standard text message rates apply)
Exchange House
- Provides front line and support services to travellers
- Call 01 8721094 for support, help or advice (from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Helplink.ie
- A mental health charity providing free counselling during the COVID-19 crisis
- Call 091 759887 or 0818 998880 (during office hours) or email helplinksupport@helplink.ie
Jigsaw
- Jigsaw is the National Centre for Youth Mental Health
- Mental health information and a Q&A service for young people, their parents and guardians, and those who work with young people.
- Jigsaw also offer an online group chat service.
- Call 1800 544 729 for support
Mental Health Ireland
- Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing to all individuals and communities in Ireland
- Information line (01) 284 1166 (from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)Iz
Pieta House
- Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide
- Freephone 1800 247 247 (any time, day or night)
- Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)
Samaritans Ireland
- The Samaritans aim to provide support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide
- Freephone 116 123 (any time, day or night)
Shine
- Shine aim to empower people with mental ill health and their families through support, information and education.
- Shine offers a confidential email support service for anyone who doesn’t feel ready or able to speak to someone in person or on the phone. Contact phil@shine.ie
SpunOut
- Ireland's youth information website focusing on wellbeing and good physical and mental heatlh
- They offer anonymous support 24/7 with a text message support service
- Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 to begin
- They also have a dedicated COVID-19 section
YourMentalHealth
- This HSE site provides information and signposting on all mental health supports and services that are available nationally & locally provided by the HSE and its funded partners
- Freephone 1800 111 888 (any time, day or night) to find supports and services
Apps
Balance: free one year subscription
- Balance is a meditation app that you'd normally pay for, but it's free for a year right now
Breethe: free meditation resources
- This meditation app is offering a free collection of meditation resources to use with the app
ClearFear
- This is an app developed by a teenage mental health charity that uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to reduce stress
Headspace
- A well-known mobile app that teaches meditation and easy to use mindfulness skills (see also Exercises and Classes below)
Insight Timer
- Popular app with a library of over 30,000 guided meditations and a simple timer for meditation
MindShift CBT - Anxiety Canada
- MindShift uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety
Simple Habit
- App that focuses on five-minute sessions to help busy people develop a daily practice. Currently offering free Premium memberships to anyone who can’t afford to pay for them due to loss of income in the pandemic
Articles
Can You Be Alone but Not Lonely?
- A Neuroscientist Explains How to Cope With Self-Isolation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Stress and coping during COVID-19
Coping with anxiety
- Tips to keep anxiety under control
Coping with the impact of coronavirus: a guide for young people
Coronavirus and your wellbeing
- Advice and information from the UK mental health charity MIND
Health and wellbeing resources for leaving cert students
- Wellbeing information and resources from gov.ie
How to Cope With Loneliness During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Strategies to use to ensure your well-being and good mental health during the lockdown
HSE: Minding your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
- Advice from the HSE on things you can do to mind your mental health during times like this.
NALA: Coronavirus COVID-19 words and terms explained in plain English
- A list of words used about coronavirus (also called COVID-19) that appear in the news and online, with plain English explanations
Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty
- Manage your worry and anxiety in these uncertain times
Studying and self-isolating: the lowdown on lockdown
- Ideas for maintaining study time while you're stuck at home
Supporting Parents and Families through the Days and Weeks Ahead
- A comprehensive but accessible resource full of useful tips, strategies, ideas and links to support parents and in turn to help them support their children at this time
Health and wellbeing exercises, classes and courses
Calm
- Meditations, sleep stories, movement exercises, journals, and music
Chen Tai Chi
- Youtube channel offering tai chi classes
Grow.ie: six-week guide on coping with COVID19
- Podcasts, practical resources and information
Headspace: Weathering the storm
- Meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help you out
Heartfulness
- A simple system of meditation and relaxation which can be easily integrated into daily lives
HeartMath
- A free interactive program for maintaining emotional balance, mental clarity and sustaining resilience during these challenging times
HSE:Free Online Stress Control Classes
- HSE Health and Wellbeing are offering a free Stress Control programme online over three weeks. Classes can be livestreamed or be watched on YouTube afterwards
Koru Mindfulness
- Some resources to help us be ready to respond with thoughtfulness and wisdom to whatever comes our way during this uncertain time.
Mindfullness.ie
- Online guided meditations at 12 noon and 8pm daily
Mindfulness Teachers Assocation Ireland
- Online mindfulness practice sessions
Now and Zen
- Live guided meditations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30pm
Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief
- Some relaxation techniques to put the brakes on stress
RTE: 3 breathing exercises to help with stress and anxiety
- A few simple breathing exercises that can help to keep you cool, calm and collected
University of Wisconsin-Madison COVID-19 Well-Being Toolkit and Resources
- A list of resources to support well-being during the pandemic that includes meditations, apps and articles
Yale University: The science of wellbeing
- Free (and popular) online course designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits
Diversions & Distractions
Jigsaw Planet
- Free online jigsaw puzzles
Sudoku
- Play free sudoku online - from easy to expert levels
Beautiful Games
- Games for Relaxation & Stress Relief
krazydad
- Thousands of free printable sudoku, logic puzzles, mazes and more
Free Games
- No downloads, no purchases and no in-game ads
PlayingCards.io Virtual Tabletop
- Play tabletop games online with friends
Monterey Bay Aquarium live web-cams
- View live feeds from the aquarium
Zoo Cams
- Zoo cams located all over the United States<
Edinburgh Zoo Penguin Cam
