COVID-19 Mental Health Resources

COVID-19 Mental Health Resources

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Psychology Department recognizes that the coronavirus pandemic poses concern for both physical and mental health. People respond to events such as these in many different ways. It is okay to feel just fine, and it is normal for you or people who you care about to feel stressed, lonely, or powerless.

STAY UPDATED! Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and give yourself a break. It’s good to stay informed; it’s not so good to be bombarded by coverage (e.g., reading the same story multiple times). It can be more stressful than helpful. Consider asking yourself: how is this next news story helping me? You might try checking in on the news at scheduled times, and doing so with reliable sources like the CDC and WHO.

FOR EVERYONE

FOR UIUC STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF

CONNECT

Your day to day life may have already changed and may change in the future, as this situation evolves. If you are practicing social distancing or are quarantined, remember that you can still stay connected. Feeling disconnected from friends, family, and colleagues can be isolating.

  • Reach out to people who are most at risk of being affected by the virus; if that includes you, know that you’re not alone.
    • Planning a virtual date: you can plan to virtually enjoy a shared activity with friends and family. Maybe you plan to both cook the same meal and eat together over skype or even play a boardgame!
  • Offer to connect with people virtually. Take people up on their offers to meet virtually.
    • Some useful platforms include Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, WhatsApp, 
    • Now may be a great time to reachout to friends you have not had the chance to talk to in a while. Use this as an opportunity to reconnect.

If you find that you are very lonely and do not have people to reach out to, a warm line might be useful. Warm lines are hotlines that you can call to speak with someone. You do not need to be experiencing a “crisis” to call/text a warm line. Your call/texting session might be brief; be prepared to wait “on hold.” 

IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

  • Illinois warm line (there may be an above average wait time):
  • Call4Calm is a recently launched program in Illinois for those struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and need emotional support.
    • Text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish. 
    • The service is free and available 24/7
    • This is an anonymous service and you will only be asked for your first name and zip code, which enables the service to link you to a counselor in your area who is knowledgeable about local resources. 
    • A local community mental health center will call you within 24 hours.
    • You can also receive other helpful resources by texting 552020 with keywords such as “unemployment,” “food,” and “shelter.”

CALL HOTLINES FOR IMMEDIATE HELP

Hotlines can be helpful; be prepared to wait “on hold” to speak to a hotline counselor. It’s worth the wait.

If you feel overwhelmed about COVID-19 and need someone to talk to, call or text SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Hotline. This is a 24/7 hotline dedicated to emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

  • Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
  • Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/
  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK
    • 800-784-2433 Toll-free
    • 888-628-9454 Toll-free Spanish
  • Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Toll-free
    • http://www.translifeline.org
    • contact@translifeline.org
  • Hotline provided through a long-standing emergency preparedness partnership between DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health and the West Virginia Poison Center
    • Operators are available 24/7
    • toll-free at 1-800-887-4304 

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

  • To search for a therapist, try using the website Psychology Today.Be sure to ask about availability and telehealth options.
  • Local Mental Health Groups
    • Keri Powell Group is a local therapy clinic with capacity for same week appointments.
      • Address: 41 E University Ave #3a, Champaign, IL 61820
      • Phone: 217-352-0200
      • https://kptherapy.com/– there is a form on their website that can be filled out and submitted. This platform is monitored by the Keri Powell team on a very regular basis
      • Accepts most insurance plans
      • Handful of practitioners are available to take new clients, but the wait is about one week at this time.
      • An in-person first session is required, then video or phone sessions are available to established clients
    • Elliott Counseling Group: is a local therapy clinic with capacity for same week appointments.
    • The Pavilion Behavioral Health Services
    • Community Mental Health Agencies
      • Rosecrance Central Illinois
      • Address: 1801 Fox Dr.
      • 217-693-4580 Voice – Intake/Admission
      • 217-398-8080 Voice – Mental Health Line
      • 844-711-5106 Voice – All Rosecrance Locations/Services
      • https://rosecrance.org/

CAMPUS RESOURCES

The following resources are specific to University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Given campus closures, many of these resources may have limited hours or may be closed until students return to campus. All information regarding closures listed below were updated on March 13th, 2020.

Please note that if these resources are closed it is to help protect our community. We include website links that will help you stay updated on these resources and their availability.

  • The Counseling Center is available for students. Stay up to date with their offerings here: Counseling Center Protocol for Managing Coronavirus
    • If you are being quarantined, you won’t be able to be seen at the counseling center. There are still other resources for you – check out the hotlines given, above, or the Center’s self-help brochures here: Self-Help Brochures
    • For in-person appointments, call: (217) 333-3704
      • To schedule an initial appointment please dial 217-333-3704 any time after 7:50 a.m, Monday through Friday.* To ensure that you will have opportunity to schedule an appointment that is convenient with your schedule, we encourage you to call early, since times available for initial appointments are provided to students in the order that their calls are received.
    • In the case of a non-life threatening emergency
      • The Counseling Center also provides emergency consultations to students with urgent mental health concerns between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday website links that will help you stay updated on these resources and their availability.
  • Health Concerns
    • McKinley Health Center
      • Dial-a-nurse, 24/7:217-333-2700
      • Can provide free consultation appointments for those covered by student insurance.
      • For student medical questions
  • Cultural Houses