Mental Health Resources

If you are feeling stressed regarding COVID-19 and the disruption it is causing to our daily lives, you are not alone. The information below will help you take steps to help safeguard your mental health and reduce your anxiety. 

Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

Provide self-care:

  • Take care of your body.
  • Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
  • Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs.

Take time for activities you enjoy like reading, crafts, cooking, going outdoors, talking to friends and family.

Connect with others:
  • Reach out to family and friends. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
  • Reach out to check on loved ones that you're worried about and discussing mental health and available resources. 
  • Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. When you share accurate information about COVID-19 you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.

Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for yourself or your family as you did before the outbreak.

Pre-Existing Mental Health Conditions

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.

For anyone who is unsure about attending therapy sessions outside the home, especially those who the CDC has described as being at higher risk, you can ask your health care provider about tele-therapy or mental health services online.

For anyone who is worried about access to prescribed medications, you can ask your health care provider about getting 90-day supplies vs. a 60 or 30-day supply. If this is not possible, we encourage you to refill your medications as soon as they are allowed.

Listen to and follow your local health care provider’s recommendations.

Support for Children and Teens

Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.

Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.

Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.

Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.

Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.

White Bird's HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) program provides mobile crisis response support to Eugene School District 4J and other high schools. It is offering mental health support by phone for high school students, families and staff while schools are closed. Staff are able to provide short-term counseling, resource referrals and Oregon Health pLan sign-up. HOOTS is available weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Students, families and staff of Churchill, North Eugene, Sheldon, South Eugene, ECCO, Network Charter, Wellsprings, Twin Rivers Charter, Willamette High School and Kalapuya should call: 541-246-2342.
  • Students, families and staff of the Academy of Arts and Academics, Gateways, Springfield High School, Thurston High School and Oakridge High School should call: 541-246-2332.
  • 15th Night will also continue to offer support and resources for unhoused youth and those working with them via phone and text at 541-246-4046.





Additional Resources

Safe + Strong Oregon (Oregon Health Authority)

Stress and Coping (Centers for Disease Control)

Updates on COVID-19 (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

COVID-19 Guide (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Taking care of your behavioral health: tips for social distancing, quarantine, and isolation during an infectious disease outbreak (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Who Can I Call?

Oregon Safe + Strong Helpline: 800-923-4357 (HELP).


Text HOME to 741741 
to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor.

Senior Loneliness Line: If you or a loved one are experiencing loneliness or isolation, please call us at: 503-200-1633 | 800-282-7035. For more information visit: facebook.com/SeniorLonelinessLine | www. SeniorLonelinessLine.org

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517).

The White Bird Crisis Line will continue to be accessible 24/7 at 541-687-4000 and 1-800-422-7558. It offers humanistic, person-centered crisis intervention. For an in-person response, CAHOOTS continues to operate 24/7 at this time, if you are in Eugene, please call 541-682-5111. If you are in Springfield, please call 541-726-3714.

Hourglass Community Crisis Center is located at 71 Centennial Loop, Suite A, Eugene, OR 97401.

South Lane Mental Health is located at 1345 Birch Avenue in Cottage Grove. SLMH can be reached at 541-942-3939.

The Child and Family Center (CFC) at the University of Oregon is a mental health clinic run out of the UO that offers free and/or reduced therapy services to children and families. In response to the social distancing guidelines, they are now offering free telehealth services for families with children ages 2-17. Services are available in both Spanish and English. Please call the clinic at 541-346-4910 to schedule your appointment today.