Psychologist Recommended Resources for Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic

Stay safe out there. We will get through this together.

This is a very difficult time for many of us. There are few people alive today who have experienced a pandemic, so this is an unprecedented situation. But health care professionals are here and prepared to help. Below is a collection of resources that may help you to cope during this difficult time. If you reside in Ontario, I am available for video-therapy sessions or telephone sessions. If you are a current client, please do not hesitate to contact me, and you are not alone. If you don't have time to read the resources below, I would like to recommend the following:

1. Be easier on yourself because this is a difficult and stressful time, so you may not be very productive right now.
2. Try to maintain healthy and regular eating, sleeping, and exercise habits, because these are beneficial to overall health.
3. Practice some relaxation exercises or meditation to reduce stress. There are many resources available such as the free ones listed HERE.
4. In your spare time, work on a hobby, play a game, chat online with friends, try a new recipe, or any activity that brings you joy, relaxation, or a welcome challenge. This is called behavioural activation and you can read more about it HERE.
5. Reduce your time spent watching news or imagining the worst. It is not helpful to focus on things that you cannot control.
6. Follow the recommendations of health professionals and health agencies.

 
Resources

• Canadian Psychological Association Covid-19 Fact Sheets:
• Student Wellness and COVID (PDF)
• Helping Teens Cope with the Impacts of and Restrictions Related to COVID-19 (PDF)
• Psychological Impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF)
• Working from Home During COVID, With and Without Children (PDF)
• Coping with and Preventing COVID-19 (PDF)

 

• American Psychological Association (APA) COVID-19 Resources
• APA- Coping with Covid Related Stress as a Student
• APA- Advice for Parents and Caregivers (numerous tips and articles)
• More APA tips for Parents and Caregivers
• APA- Grief and Covid (video)
• APA- How Students and Academia are Navigating Covid (video)

 

• World Health Organization (WHO)- Coping with Stress During COVID-19
• World Health Organization (WHO)-Helping Children Cope with Stress During COVID-19

 

• Sunlife- Managing Stress and Anxiety During a Pandemic
• Sunlife- How to Talk to Children About Coronovirus
• Sunlife- Taking Care of the Elderly During COVID

 

• COVID-19 Tolerance of Uncertainty Workbook website or download (PDF)

Author

Dr. Candice Bovell, Ph.D., C.Psych. is a Clinical Psychologist who treats adults with depression, anxiety, and stress online in Ontario, Canada.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay