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Resources to Support Families in Behavioral Health throughout COVID-19
New Additions 5/8/20

In this challenging time of change and much uncertainty, the Behavioral Health Family Resource Center is responding by frequently updating this list of online resources to support children, teens, adults, families and NSMC employees. Please keep practicing social distancing and other safety protocols and remember to make time to care for yourself.

Your inquiries, comments and suggestions are welcome. Contact eyourgrau@partners.org. We hope this is helpful.
  • ElizabethYourgrau, MA, MSW, LICSW Clinical Coordinator, Behavioral Health Family Resource Center
  • Ivette Thomson, BA, Program Coordinator, Behavioral Health Family Resource Center
  • Marguerite Roberts, MS, NP, Clinical Coordinator Mindfulness Programs, Behavioral Health Family Resource Center

Adults:

  1. Mass General Hospital "Guide to Mental Health Resources"
  2. Center for Disease Control Updated Situation Summary Reports
  3. Benson Henry Institute - "Calm in the Time of Coronavirus" includes Tips for Staying Resilient
  4. Mental Health APPS. Compiled by Shalini Bhalla, Staff Psychologist Psy.D., Coordinator for Outpatient Clinic and Behavioral Medicine Team, Mass General for Children, at NSMC
  5. Yale University "The Science of Well-Being" Yale's most popular class ever is available free online and the topic is "How to be Happier in Your Daily Life"
  6. Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Outbreak includes reliable and helpful resources
  7. Harvard Health Publishing "Coping with Coronavirus: Dealing with Daily Stress, Anxiety and a Range of Other Emotions"
  8. Mass 211 - "Get Connected, Get Answers" Provides free confidential and multilingual answers to your questions.
  9. Healthline "5 Tips for Coping with Cabin Fever During a Shelter-in-Place"
  10. Harvard Business Review "That Discomfort Your Feeling is Grief updated May 1st
  11. WBUR "Taking Care of Each Other During The Coronavirus Crisis"
  12. Brown University Mindfulness Center with Jud Brewer, MD "Conversations on COVID: Breaking the anxiety cycle"
  13. Brown University Mindfulness Center with Jud Brewer, MD "Understanding Coronavirus Anxiety (Daily Update 1)"


Inspirational:

  1. Helping Us Get to the Growth Zone "What Do I Want to Be During COVID-19"
  2. Around the World "The Weight"


Mass Health:

  1. Mass Health "Resources for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Providers"
  2. Mass Health "Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 and Behavioral Health Providers"
  3. Mass Health "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)—Providers"
  4. Mass Health "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) —Applicants and Members"
  5. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Families with Children Receiving Home and Community-Based Behavioral Health Services During COVID-19"


  1. Network of Care Massachusetts "A directory of over 5,000 programs and organizations across the Commonwealth"
  2. Internal Revenue Service Economic Impact Payment Info
  3. The Family Resources Network of MA "During this COVID-19 Outbreak, We're Here to Help You"


Professionals:

  1. McLean Hospital "Dr. Lois Choi-Kain Shares Strategies to Successfully Manage Heightened Emotions" She breaks down what she has learned from treating patients with Borderline Personality Disorder"
  2. Owl Insights "The Telehealth Tipping Point for Behavioral Health" - May 12th Webinar Moderated by Dr. Whitney Black, MD, psychiatrist and quality medical director, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, Oregon), the format is a conversation among industry experts.
  3. Free Headspace Meditation APP for US Healthcare Professionals
  4. The Schwartz Center "Resources for Healthcare Professionals Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic"
  5. Free Access for Frontline Workers to Ten Percent Happier Coronavirus Sanity APP
  6. National Child Traumatic Health Network The Schwartz Center "Caring for Yourself & Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing Healthcare Workers Stress" Guide for families with a particularly helpful chart outlining stress reactions and helpful responses by age group 
  7. The Schwartz Center "Caring for Yourself & Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Managing Healthcare Workers’ Stress"
  8. Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) "Psychological Effects of Quarantine During the Coronavirus Outbreak" What Healthcare Providers Need to Know



NSMC Employees: (login required to access):

Julia Morgan, PsyD., is a licensed psychologist and the clinical coordinator for child and adolescent services at the Neuropsychological Assessment Center. She is available to connect with family members and loved ones of NSMC staff who are looking for additional support and consultation around managing COVID-19 related stress, concern about their loved one's employment related exposure, and other family/parenting needs. She can be reached at jmorgan11@partners. org


  1. NMSC Employee Virtual Support Group led by the EAP and Pastoral Care
  2. Partners Healthcare "Resilience Augmentation for Medical Personnel (RAMP) during the COVID-19 Outbreak" 3 Different Open and Ongoing Online Sessions (Resilience and Mindfulness, Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) and Mindfulness for Wellness)
  3. NSMC "Coronavirus FAQ's for Staff"
  4. Partners Healthcare "May 7th TownHall Meeting" previous meetings available here as well
  5. Partners Pulse Government COVID-19 Response Updates
  6. Partners Pulse: "Mental Health and Well-Being Resources for COVID-19"
  7. Partners Pulse "FAQ's for COVID Testing"
  8. Partners Pulse Updates COVID-19
  9. NSMC Connect "COVID-19 Updates"
  10. Positively NSMC COVID-19 Edition "In This Together"
  11. Mental Health and Well-Being Resources Check out resources that have been compiled to help employees cope with everyday stresses and concerns.
  12. Benson-Henry Institute "Clinician Resiliency Groups"
  13. NSMC's Pastoral Care Department "Four-Minute Mindful Meditation" Video
  14. NSMC's Pastoral Care Department "Five-Minute Mindful Meditation" Video
  15. Employee Assistance Program "Seminars/Events, Success with Stress Series"
  16. McLean Hospital Brainwaves "Caring for Your Mental Health Despite the Coronavirus"



Mindfulness for Children, Teens and Adults:

With many students, educators, and families at home, away from school and work, Mindful Schools has offered free, online mindfulness classes for KIDS!

  1. *Mindful Schools "Ten Free Online Classes for School K-5 Aged Students"
  2. "Take a Break, Keep Perspective, Be Kind in Uncertain Times"
  3. Fight, Flight and Mindfulness Response to Overwhelm


Five Brief practices "Mindfulness for Children Series at Home" with Gabriel, AME Association for Mindfulness in Education (you tube videos):

  1. Regarding Major Transitions
  2. 5 Finger Breathing (emergency mindfulness)
  3. Grateful Gratitude
  4. Feelings like Sad, Lonely, Mad
  5. Mindful Eating


"Mindfulness in Every Day Life" with Marguerite, NSMC Family Center for Mindfulness Practices for parents/caregivers and children for finding self calm. Try each together and continue with favorites.

  1. Children's Intro
  2. Sitting Like a Mountain
  3. The Body Tour
  4. Mindful Yoga
  5. Mindful Eating
  6. Belly Breathing
  7. Walking
  8. Friendliness and Kindness
  9. Practice with Play
  10. Water Practice
  11. Pebbles


Short Mindful Practices for Teens and Adults:

  1. Brief Sitting
  2. Brief Mindful Movement / HATHA Floor Yoga
  3. Brief Standing / Mindful Movement
  4. Loving Kindness
  5. Brief Body Scan


  1. UMass Memorial Medical Center Mindfulness Programs (FEE) "8-week Online Program beginning June 23" register by June 17 
  2. Mindful Schools "Executive Function Live Online Workshop (FEE): What It Is and Why It Matters" May 26 with Dr. Mark Bertin
  3. Mindful Leader.Org COVID-19 Support Initiative Free Online Daily Meditation Support Groups
  4. CALM "FREE Meditations" APP for All Ages
  5. Jack Kornfield Audio "A Steady Heart in the Time of Coronavirus"



Parents/Guardians of Children, Teens and Young Adults:
,
  1. *Dr. Jellinek former Chief of Child Psychiatry at MGH "COVID-19: Helpful Q&A for Parents" Highly informative and reassuring information for parents. Addresses issues of parents working from home, home schooling and learning disabilities during this pandemic.
  2. McLean Hospital: Video: Dr. Lisa Coyne Offers "Support for Caregivers of Kids and Teens During the Pandemic" She discusses ways to support the Mental Health of K-12 students including talking about the foundations of coping. She also provides useful responses to managing children who are out of school and stuck at home with their lives disrupted.
  3. The Family Dinner Project "OUR STUCK AT HOME GUIDE TO FOOD, FUN AND CONVERSATION"
  4. "Children and Young Adults' Mental Health During the Coronavirus" University of Vermont Continuing and Distance Education
  5. McLean Hospital "Helping Kids and Families Keep a Healthy Mindset During Coronavirus Crisis" provides tips for families for managing stress and anxiety in themselves and with their children
  6. The Clay Center at Mass General Hospital (MGH) for Young Healthy Minds "7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
  7. Child Trends "Resources for Supporting Children's Emotional Well-being during COVID-19 Pandemic" guidance, recommendations and a wide range of resources are provided by Child Trauma experts
  8. Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress "Helping Homebound Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak"
  9. Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) "How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus" Rich Bhatia, MD and FAPA is a Chid Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist
  10. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) - "Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019" information is also in Chinese and Spanish
  11. NCTSN Supporting Children During COVID-19 Resource Guide for Supporting Children of All Ages
  12. Psychology Today - "How to Talk to Kids and Teens about Coronavirus" includes helpful tips for different age groups
  13. CDC - "Tips for Supporting Yourself and Your Kids in Managing Stress"
  14. One Tough Job, a children's trust program "Managing Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic"



Children:

  1. *CNN: "The ABC's of Covid 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for very young children up to age 10 and Parents
  2. ZeroToThree - "Tips for Families: Coronavirus"
  3. No School Social Story - Explaining COVID-19 to Young Children
  4. "King Covid and the Kids Who Cared" ages 4-6 & 7-9 by Nicole Rim
  5. World Health Organization "Children’s story book released to help children and young people cope with COVID-19"
  6. My Hero is You: How Kids Can Fight Coronavirus Children's storybook released by UNICEF to help children and young people understand and cope with COVID-19. Intended for children 6-11. Adults are encouraged to read the book first and then read the story along with children
  7. Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus - Explaining COVID-19 to Older Children and Teens


Academic Resources:

  1. Greater Massachusetts of Special Needs (SPED): "Remote Learning: Supporting Students & Families"
  2. Autism Speaks COVID-19 Information and Resources for Families
  3. Home Learning for Kids and Parents Amid COVID-19 Tufts article specific to learning at home during school closures. Second to last tip, go easy on yourself, is particularly relevant!
  4. Go Noodle - "Movement Powers Change"
  5. BrainPOP - "Make Any Room A Classroom"
  6. Lexia - Reading Intervention Program
  7. ST Math - Visual Math Program
  8. Khan Academy - Free Online Courses, Lessons
  9. Kaplan - SAT & ACT on Demand



Support Groups:

  1. Parenting Helping Parents (Online Support Groups/ Zoom)
  2. Local & National Resources MA - Children's Trust
  3. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Zoom Meeting Notes 4/15/20
  4. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Contact colleen.pritoni@state.ma.us for next meeting info
  5. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  6. Learn to Cope (LTC) meetings are for family members who have someone in their life struggling with the disease of addiction. If you would like to find out about our online ZOOM meetings, Contact kday@learn2cope.org
  7. Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP) Contact leodancer@comcast.net
  8. Learning to Cope with Grief - This grief meeting is specifically for people who have suffered a loss due to substance abuse. If you would like to find out about our online ZOOM meetings Contact colleencb29@gmail.com.


Substance Use:

  1. Network of Care Massachusetts "A directory of over 5,000 programs and organizations across the Commonwealth"
  2. Tips Social Distancing by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Current Topics - SAMHSA
  4. Boston Medical Center Office-Based Addiction Treatment Program Expanding access to life-saving treatment for substance use disorders through education, support, and capacity building.
  5. Meeting Guide for Alcoholics Anonymous
  6. Healthline "How People in Addiction Recovery Are Dealing with the Isolation of COVID-19"
  7. Monday Night AA Meeting 7pm Zoom



Resources collected by Sara Leva, LICSW at NSMC & NSPG Social Workers and Community Health Workers:

  1. Online / Phone Resources for Recovery Support
  2. Financial Resources
  3. Emergency Food Resources
  4. Children and Family Resources
  5. Food Resources in Greater Newburyport
  6. Internet Service Resources
  7. Lynn Housing Authority "Crisis Hotlines"
  8. North Shore Physicians Group (NSPG) - "Cooking During COVID-19"
  9. NSPG - "Food Assistance Programs During COVID-19"
  10. Grocery Delivery Services During COVID-19
  11. NSPG - "COVID-19 Nutrition Resources"
  12. NSPG - "Create a COVID-19 Workout Routine"
  13. NSPG Nutrition Department - Healthy Eating for Immunity
  14. "Small Business Owners Guide to Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARESAct), provided by DanversCARES