Resources for psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak

This page provides resources related to heightened psychological stress and psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak, with particular focus on adults, pregnant women and parents.

Last updated: 10 september 2020

Psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak

During this time of necessary social distancing and mask-wearing, it is entirely normal to feel elevated levels of stress, anxiety and worry. This added layer of uncertainty and fear can accentuate all of our underlying anxieties and worries.

In order to continue to offer support to adults, pregnant women and infants and their parents in the time of coronavirus, I now also offer online counselling, in addition to in-person counselling.

To further support you, I am gathering resources on COVID-19 that I believe provide additional support to individuals, parents and pregnant women. These online groups and material seek to support us all in our psychological wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic as we grapple with this new state of normalcy and seek social connection at a moment of physical isolation.

I will continue to regularly update this page. Please note that these are all external websites and although I have visited them all, I cannot be held responsible for their content. If you would like to find out more about online counselling, please click here.

COVID-19 Advice for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

• Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) – Frequently Asked Questions About The New Coronavirus https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/faq-kontakte-downloads/haeufig-gestellte-fragen.html?faq-url=/en/categories/pregnancy
• World Health Organization (WHO): Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding WHO page dedicated to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
• UNICEF – Navigating pregnancy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/navigating-pregnancy-during-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR1P65ckNyeSz_dkdBm6rDyt4UA_WC3X8sSe69a6DhyzJUYb5u9Fkd2fohc Excellent source of information for women who are pregnant, including advice about keeping safe, birth, breastfeeding, planning for birth and a useful question list for the hospital/birthing centre, as well as ideas on self care.
• The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health – Compendium of COVID-19 related resources for women’s, adolescents’ and children’s health https://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2020/guidance-on-COVID-19/en/?fbclid=IwAR2KU3Sf9vATSdU3vwxFpPI12H6xkQ5om0XpvTSZWDfVZeVrmv5sinIw88o
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Pregnancy and Breastfeeding https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fpregnancy-breastfeeding.html – CDC’s page specifically for pregnant and postpartum women.
• The MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health – COVID-19 Outbreak – Information for Pregnant Women https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/covid-19-outbreak-information-for-pregnant-women/

• COVIBOOK: COVID-19 Understanding for children, by Manuela Molina https://www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk/content/uploads/2020/03/Covid19-understanding-for-kids.pdf Written and illustrated by Manuela Molina for children under the age of 7, to support and reassure children. Designed to be printed out and drawn on. Available in multiple languages: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
• Coronavirus: A book for children, by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson & Nia Roberts, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler https://nosycrowcoronavirus.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coronavirus_ABookForChildren.pdf Lovely book for children, illustrated by Axel Sheffler, who also illustrated The Gruffalo.
• Helping Young Children Make Sense of Coronavirus – “Georgie and The Giant Germ” https://tenderpressbooks.com/georgie-%26-the-giant-germ A free interactive coloring book for small children. It was developed by psychotherapists and psychologists to support caregivers in their conversations with young children about COVID-19 as well as providing a way for children to express their worries.
• Just for Kids – A Comic Exploring The Coronavirus https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus?t=1587146728458 From NPR (National Public Radio) in the US. Also available in Spanish and Chinese.
• My Hero Is You – How Kids Can Fight COVID-19 https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020-04/My%20Hero%20is%20You%2C%20Storybook%20for%20Children%20on%20COVID-19.pdf A story designed for and by children from around the world, facilitated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Recommended for parents, caregivers or teachers to read alongside a child or a small group of children. Also available in multiple languages.
• Children’s Guide to the Coronavirus – UK Children’s Commissioner https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cco-childrens-guide-to-coronavirus.pdf A reassuring resource written for a British audience (but useful globally) which covers factual, age-appropriate information on the coronavirus and COVID-19, as well as ideas for keeping physically and mentally well during the pandemic.

• APSAA Coronavirus Information for Parents and Guardians https://apsa.org/coronavirus-parents

• Child Mind Institute – Supporting Families During COVID-19 https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/ Comprehensive list of resources and support for parents and their children.
• The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health – Compendium of COVID-19 related resources for women’s, adolescents’ and children’s health https://www.who.int/pmnch/media/news/2020/guidance-on-COVID-19/en/?fbclid=IwAR2KU3Sf9vATSdU3vwxFpPI12H6xkQ5om0XpvTSZWDfVZeVrmv5sinIw88o
• Harvard University – Center on the Developing Child: What is COVID-19? And how does it relate to child development? (Released: April 2020) https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/what-is-covid-19-and-how-does-it-relate-to-child-development/ utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=april_2020 A short and easily accessible infographic which uses child-friendly language to describe COVID-19 as well as offer some practical tips for parental self-care.
• Harvard University – Center on the Developing Child: How to Support Children (and Yourself) During The COVID-19 Outbreak https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/how-to-support-children-and-yourself-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=april_2020
• MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health: Covid-19 Outbreak – How to support our children (Released: April 2020) https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/covid-19-outbreak-how-to-support-our-children/ Some easy to follow ideas for helping your children make sense of the current crisis from birth through to adolescence.
• Zero to Three: Tips for Families (Coronavirus) https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus This website offers tips for families including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
• Dr. Barbara Stroud: COVID-19 Tips for Parents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKeau2huT4&t=2s Dr. Stroud has provided this informational video for parents in order to support caregivers in managing the emotional responses and developmental needs of their children during this crisis. Dr. Stroud provides parents with information and skills to support their children’s emotional health, mental well being, and build necessary skills of resilience.
• Malatavie – Phone: 022 372 42 42 / Emergency Number: 144 / https://www.malatavie.ch/- Crisis unit at HUG for adolescents and loved ones.

resources for couples

Addiction and Recovery Support

• Smart Recovery International https://www.smartrecoveryinternational.org/ – A global community of 3000 mutual-support groups in which participants meet weekly to help each other overcome the life challenges caused by any addiction (to drugs, alcohol and behaviours such as gambling).

• The Never Alone Club https://www.neveraloneclub.org/ – a group of Narcotics Anonymous with daily online meetings where those seeking recovery can chat 24/7 for support and fellowship. You do not have to use your real name or create an account

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

• AVVEC – Aide Aux Victimes De Violence En Couple https://avvec.ch/en or call 022 797 10 10 – Online advice and help in English for people in violent relationships.

Emergency Psychiatric Support

• The Emergency Psychiatric Unit of the Geneva University Hospital – 0041 (0)22 372 3862
• La Main Tendue – Call 143 or go online on 143.ch – A 24/7 hotline to talk, email or chat with someone.

Please note that these are external websites and I am not responsible for their content