Coping in Times of Uncertainty: COVID-19 Resources
Dell Medical School is committed to supporting the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Health Social Work and Department of Population Health’s Division of Community Engagement and Health Equity have organized a resource toolkit, which they hope you will find helpful.
General Tips
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the landscape of our entire world. Things are rapidly shifting, and there is a lot of uncertainty around what the future holds for our health, our communities and many other aspects of daily life.
Feelings such as fear, stress, sadness or anxiety are all normal. This UT Health Austin blog post covers a few ways you can care for yourself.
COVID-19 ATX Exchange
If you are part of a clinical, public health or community-based organization with unmet needs, please submit your needs on the COVID-19 ATX Exchange, which vets submissions from local organizations and matches them to creative solutions.
Additional Resources
Due to the rapidly shifting nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, new information is constantly becoming available. For the most up-to-date information and resources in the community, please visit these websites:
- Austin Public Health COVID-19 Information
- Austin ISD COVID-19 Updates
- ConnectATX (resources for food, housing, transportation, child care and more)
- Williamson County COVID-19 Information
- Hays County COVID-19 Information
- Action for Happiness: Coping Calendar
- Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Coalition: COVID-19 Resources for AYA Cancer Survivors
- American Psychological Association: Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America: Coronavirus Anxiety — Helpful Expert Tips & Resources
- The Austin Center for Grief & Loss: Sliding scale/low-cost therapy and support groups for COVID-19
- Austin-Travis County: Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Isolation Facility
- Autism-Focused Intervention Resources & Modules: Supporting Individuals With Autism through Uncertain Times
- CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 — Manage Anxiety & Stress
- City of Austin: Report COVID-19 Racism
- Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness: How to Stay Connected While Intentionally Isolated
- Datis: COVID-19 Resource Center
- Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance: Resources
- Disability Rights Texas: COVID-19 resources
- Dorlee Michaeli: COVID-19 Anxiety & Stress: 30 Free Self-Care Tools
- Forbes: The Psychology of Uncertainty: How To Cope With COVID-19 Anxiety
- Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life
- Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief
- Hogg Foundation for Mental Health: Resources for Mental Health & COVID-19
- In the Rooms: COVID-19 Online Recovery Resources
- Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute: Mental Health Resources During a Pandemic
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas: Postpartum Support During COVID-19
- Psych Hub: COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub
- Shine: Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety — A Toolkit
- Texas Health & Human Services: 24/7 COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line
- Call 1-833-986-1919
- Therapy Austin: Low-Cost Online Weekly Support Group: Coping With the COVID-19 Crisis (for Texas residents)
- The Trevor Project: Implications of COVID-19 for LGBTQ Youth Mental Health & Resources
- UT Austin Anxiety & Stress Clinic: Free, remote stress management sessions
- The Wellness Center: Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook
- What’s Your Grief: Resources for grief, including articles specific to grief during social distancing
- Austin Justice Coalition: COVID-19 Community Resources
- Embrace Race: COVID-19 Resources That Take Race Seriously
- LULAC: Coronavirus resources for the Latino community
- Massachusetts General Hospital: Mental Health Resources for BIPOC
- NAACP: Coronavirus Resources
- Native Americans in Philanthropy: Coronavirus Resource Center
- RAICES: COVID-19 resources for refugee and immigrant populations
- Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity & Race (Division of the American Psychological Association): COVID-19 Resources for Communities of Color
- Action for Healthy Kids: Resources for Schools & Families During COVID-19/Coronavirus
- Alo Yoga: Mindfulness videos for kids
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America: How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus
- Austin ISD:
- CDC: Talking With Children About Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress: Taking Care of Your Family During Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- Chicago Department of Public Health: COVID-19: Guidance for Parents in Talking to Children About Coronavirus
- Child Mind Institute: Supporting Families During COVID-19
- Colorín Colorado: Coronavirus: ELL & Multilingual Resources for Schools
- Cosmic Kids Yoga: YouTube channel
- Epic Experience: Virtual activity programming for adult cancer survivors
- National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Ninja Focus App
- Parenting for Lifelong Health: COVID-19 24/7 Parenting
- PBS Kids: How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus
- Podcasts: Be Calm on Ahway Island & The Calm Kids
- Round Rock ISD: COVID-19 Testing
- Susan Kaiser Greenland: Coronavirus Resources for Families & Schools: Things We Think You’d Like to Know
- Wonders & Worries: Free support for children and teens through a parent’s serious illness
- Zero to Thrive: Helping Families in Times of Crisis
- Aunt Bertha: Find free or reduced-cost services
- Austin Council of PTAs: COVID-19 Austin Information & Resources
- Austin Creative Alliance: Financial assistance for local artists
- Austin Diaper Bank: Diaper assistance
- Austin/Travis County RISE Funds: Financial assistance for community members affected by COVID-19
- CapMetro: Help-at-home food delivery kits for MetroAccess customers:
- Call 512-369-6050
- Visit the website
- Central Texas Food Bank: Find Food Now
- City of Austin:
- ConnectATX United Way: COVID-19 emergency food resources and more
- Hope Food Pantry Austin: Stay Home, Stay Healthy (delivery program for older adults and people who are immunocompromised)
- Call 737-228-3558
- Visit the website
- Meals on Wheels of Central Texas: Meal delivery services
- NAMI: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information & Resources
- Nancy’s List: COVID-19 Financial Assistance for People Living With Cancer
- National Federation of the Blind: COVID-19 Resources
- Patient Advocate Foundation:
- Texas 2-1-1:
- Call 2-1-1
- Visit the website
- Texas Education Agency: Find free school meals
- Texas Workforce Commission: Applying for unemployment benefits
- Austin SAFE Alliance:
- Call 512-267-SAFE
- Text 737-888-7233
- Visit the website to chat online
- Futures Without Violence: Information on COVID-19 for Survivors, Communities & DV/SA Programs
- Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center:
- Call 512-396-4357
- Visit the website
- National Domestic Violence Hotline:
- Call 800-799-7233
- Staying Safe During COVID-19
- Visit the website to chat online
- Texas Advocacy Project: Legal services
- Texas Department of Family & Protective Services: Report Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
- Travis County: Obtaining a protective order
- Travis County: Victim Services
- Williamson County HOPE Alliance:
- Call 1-800-460-7233
- Visit the website
- American Medical Association: COVID-19 Health Equity Resources
- American Public Health Association: COVID-19 & Equity
- Center for Urban & Racial Equity: Equitable Response Community Commons
- Health Equity Initiative: COVID-19 & Health Equity Resources
- NAACP: Ten Equity Implications of the COVID-19 Outbreak in the United States
- Point Source Youth: Webinars related to youth and social justice issues
- American Gateways: Legal services for immigrants
- TexasLawHelp.org: Legal information and resources
- Texas Legal Services Center: Legal services
- Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid: Legal services
- Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Coalition: COVID-19 resources for providers of AYA cancer care
- American Psychiatric Association: COVID-19 Mental Health Impacts: Resources for Psychiatrists
- CDC: Emergency Responders: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself
- Center for Adolescent Studies: Resilience and self-care basics for helping professionals
- Center to Advance Palliative Care:
- Center for Health Care Strategies: Addressing the Needs of Medicaid Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress:
- Girasol & UT Austin: Trainings related to trauma, immigration and supporting mixed-status families
- The Hastings Center: Ethics Resources on the Coronavirus
- Hospice Foundation of America: On-Demand COVID-19 Programs
- Ink Vessel: Palliative Care in the Time of COVID: A Graphic
- International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies: Remote Psychological First Aid During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- Institute for Patient- & Family-Centered Care: Patient- and family-centered care strategies in the time of COVID-19
- JAMA: Understanding & Addressing Sources of Anxiety Among Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- NASW:
- The National Center for Complex Health & Social Needs: Advice for providing complex health and social care during COVID-19
- National Center for PTSD:
- Oregon Health & Science University: Caring for Yourself & Caring for Others During a Disaster/Epidemic
- Oxford Medicine: A Field Manual for Palliative Care in Humanitarian Crisis
- The Playbook: Addressing Complex Care Needs Amid COVID-19
- Project Parachute: Free teletherapy for COVID-19 front line workers
- Respecting Choices: COVID-19 Resources
- SAMHSA: Disaster Planning Handbook for Behavioral Health Treatment Programs
- Social Work Career: COVID-19 Resources for Social Workers & Therapists
- VitalTalk: COVID-Ready Communication Skills
Call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
- Austin/Travis County Crisis Hotline: 512-472-HELP
- Crisis hotline for other Texas counties:
- Call 2-1-1
- Visit the Texas Health & Human Services website
- Disaster Distress Hotline:
- Call 800-985-5990
- Text “TALKWITHUS” to 66746
- National Crisis Text Line: Text “TALK” to 741-741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
- Call 800-273-8255
- Visit the website to chat online
- The Trevor Project: LGBTQ crisis lifeline
- Call 1-866-488-7386
- Text “START” to 678678
- Visit the website to chat online
- Veterans Crisis Line:
- Call 800-273-8255
- Text 838255
- Visit the website to chat online
Dell Med community members with intranet access can find additional resources on Cerebrum.
- AGE of Central Texas: Activities & Resources for Older Adults & Caregivers to Experience at Home
- Aging Services Council of Central Texas: Support services
- Alzheimer’s Association: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tips for Dementia Caregivers
- Alzheimer’s Association/AARP: Community Resource Finder
- AustinUp: COVID-19 resources for older adults
- Drive a Senior Central Texas: Rides to medical and vaccination appointments
- Family Eldercare: Lifetime Connections Without Walls
- HEB & Favor: Senior Support Line (grocery delivery)
- Institute on Aging: The Friendship Line
- Call 1-800-971-0016
- Visit the website
- Big & Mini: Virtual intergenerational connection that matches older adults with a UT student for video or phone chats
- Call (817) 755-0775
- Visit the website
- American Society for Nutrition: Making Health & Nutrition a Priority During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
- DoYogaWithMe: Free online yoga classes
- Mindfulness & Meditation Apps: Calm; Headspace; Stop, Breathe & Think
- Peloton app: Free trial
- Planet Fitness: Free online workouts