Wellness Resources

The following webpage contains COVID-19 guidance developed for students, faculty, staff, residents and fellows at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). This guidance was periodically reviewed and updated between March 2020 and June 2024.

Last Updated: 08-17-2022

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Many people are experiencing stress and anxiety as a result of COVID-19. During challenging times like this, self-care is more important than ever. Below are some resources that can help you and your family manage your stress and bolster your resiliency.

Crisis management

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Advocates are available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential.
• If you suspect child abuse or domestic violence: Call 911.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Free mental health helpline for anyone emotionally impacted — including healthcare workers — by COVID-19 outbreak (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]).
• SAMHSA: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
• SAMHSA: Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

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Coping with stress

American Psychiatric Association

• Coronavirus and Mental Health: Taking Care of Ourselves During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• Research Information: Pandemics
• Five ways to view news media coverage of the Coronavirus
• Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Coping with Stress: Tips from the CDC
• Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
• Cuide su salud mental

Center for Study of Traumatic Stress

• Coronavirus & Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks Response

EVMS Pulse

• Tips for healthy coping during COVID-19
• 10 tips for working from home efficiently

National Center for PTSD

• COVID-19: Resources for Managing Stress

National Institutes of Health

• Emotional Wellness Checklist

Additional Resources

• Coping with Stress: An Effective Guide to Stress Management (PsychCentral)
• COVID-19 – The Psychological Effects (Health Advocate)
• How to safeguard your mental health while quarantined
• Optimizing resilience and wellbeing for healthcare professions trainees and healthcare professionals during public health crises (Taylor & Francis Online)
• Video: Mental Health for Healthcare Providers in the COVID-19 Pandemic (Center City Clinic for Behavioral Medicine)
• Tips on coping during the outbreak (Physician/Author Russ Harris)
• Cómo sobrellevar el aislamiento en el hogar durante el COVID-19 (Red Cross)

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Help for families and children

• Optima Health Stay At Home Resource Guide
• Taking Care of your Family (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)
• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies (CDC)
• Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
• Supporting Kids During the Coronavirus Crisis (The Child Mind Institute)
• Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus (National Public Radio [NPR])
• Talking to Teens & Tweens about Coronavirus (The New York Times – requires subscription)

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Meditation/Relaxation

• Headspace
• Calm (Free App)
• PTSD Coach (Free App)
• Breathe2Relax (Free App)
• Video: 5-Minute Meditation You Can Do Anywhere (Goodful)
• What is box breathing? (Medical News Today)

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Resources for clinicians

• American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book
• Understanding and Addressing Sources of Anxiety Among Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic (JAMA Network)
• Lightworkers forum: healthcare workers discussion group (The Happy MD, Dike Drummond, MD) 
• Wellness for clinicians (Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers)

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Self-help training

• National Medical Reserve Corps.: It was founded after 9/11 and has affiliates nationwide. Forty percent of its members are non-clinicians. Required online training enables people without formal medical training to assist with, e.g., virtual or live Red Cross efforts, phone banks, special needs populations, shelters, public education, and points of distribution (POD’s) for emergency supplies, etc. 
• “Psychological First Aid” certification: This viral pandemic has caused a mental health pandemic. Contributing factors in medical schools and teaching hospitals include the loss of research activities that sometimes define basic scientists and graduate students; the loss of live teaching and mentoring for our learners; and the loss of social interactions with the community of scholars. These interact with other mental health risk factors such as previously diagnosed and undiagnosed behavioral conditions and the actual or potential loss of income. This psychological pandemic will increase the risk of suicide, which kills more Americans than the opioids, and promote other negative coping strategies.
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training: It was originally designed as a jail diversion program for first responders dealing with challenging behaviors. However, it is highly relevant to non-clinical faculty, staff and students. Furthermore, the use of positive behavioral controls is highly relevant to caregivers and advocacy groups like those affiliated with the American Brain Coalition. Online CIT certification training courses are available and cost less than $100. 

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