Helpful Mental Health Resources for the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Susan Todoroff and Bob Nassauer
Washtenaw County Resources

Washtenaw Community Mental Health Youth & Family Services

    • Requests for services can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling Access at 734-544-3050 or 1-800-440-7548. Or Dial 2-1-1.Website: ewashtenaw.org

Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES)

    • Phone: 734-936-5900

Website: psych.med.umich.edu/patient-care/psychiatric-emergency-service/

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor – Behavioral Health

    • Address: 1 East – 5301 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106
    • Phone: 734-712-2762

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Chelsea – Behavioral Health

    • Address: 775 South Main St., Chelsea, MI, 48118
    • Phone:  734-593-5251

Website:  http://www.stjoeschelsea.org/BehavioralHealthServices

NAMI Washtenaw:  namiwc.org

National NAMI:  nami.org

    • Helpline:  1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
    • Monday-Friday, 10 AM – 6 PM

Michigan Mental Health Networker: mhweb.org

SAMHSA: findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH):  http://www.nimh.nih.gov

NAMIFaithnet:  https://www.nami.org/NAMIFaithnet

Toll-free phone Numbers for Support
  • 1 (800) 273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 1 (800) 996-6228 Family Violence Helpline
  • 1 (800) 784-2433 National Hopeline Network (for suicide prevention)
  • 1 (800) 366-8288 Self-Harm Hotline
  • 1 (800) 230-7526 Planned Parenthood Hotline
  • 1 (800) 222-1222 American Association of Poison Control Centers
  • 1 (800) 622-2255 Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Hope Line
  • 1 (800) 233-4357 National Crisis Line, Anorexia and Bulimia
  • 1 (888) 843-4564 LGBT Hotline
  • 1 (866) 488-7386 TREVOR Crisis Hotline (another LGBT source)
  • 1 (800) 221-7044 AIDS Crisis Line
Online Support

Crisis Text Line Text “HOME” TO 741741

Using Social Media to Support Each Other

Now is a great time to use social media platforms to connect with each other! Below are some ideas for what you can do:

  • Share positive coping skills you’re using and ways in which you’re staying connected to the outside world.
  • Make short videos while you’re doing activities to pass the time while sheltering in place.
  • Create a “fill in the blank” that followers can answer with a picture. For example, “I’m grateful today for….” Someone can post a picture holding up a sign that says “I’m grateful today for sunshine” or they can film a quick video filling in the blank.
  • Create interactive posts that allow followers to share what they’re doing. Examples: What are you doing for self-care? What’s been your favorite in-home activity to do? What’s the first thing you plan to do when restrictions are lifted?
  • Create a challenge! Examples: a push-up challenge, a walk-around-the-block challenge, jumping jacks, cooking a new recipe, learning a TikTok dance, sidewalk chalk art, daily meditations, reaching out to a friend, etc. Then people can tag and challenge other friends to do the same. How this plays out:
    • Someone posts a video of themselves doing 10 push-ups. During the video and in the post, they challenge 1 to 3 of their friends to do the same.
  • Set a regular time for virtual check-ins with your friends. Have an open forum for people to share how they’re feeling and what they’re doing while sheltering in place.
  • Share “day-in-the-life” images, videos, and activities that your peers can relate to.

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