Mental Health Support During COVID-19

COVID Cares Support Services: Licensed mental health and substance use disorder personnel are available to talk for free with individuals on the front lines and provide them with support over the telephone. These special 20-minute support calls are offered to serve Minnesota health care workers, first responders and essential personnel.

  1. Social Isolation
  2. Community Conversations
  3. More Resources
Physical distancing and other measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 are important, but can leave many feeling isolated, lonely, and anxious. It’s important to find new ways to connect with family and friends during this time. Our social relationships are important for our overall health and well-being and can greatly reduce our stress levels. Finding ways to cope with stress and maintaining your relationships will keep you and your community healthier and stronger. 

Stay Connected 


  • Spend quality time with your household. Get creative and find new ways to connect with your love ones in your household. Try out a family game night, movie viewing, or try out a new recipe together.   
  • Use technology to stay connected. We have access to a variety of ways of staying connected with our loved ones right now. Consider opportunities like video chatting, texting, phone calls, or snail mail to foster your relationships.  

Focus on the Basics


  • Ensure your basic needs are met. We need access to food, medication, and mask accessibility to stay healthy. Find food resources in Washington County. 
  • Establish schedules and routines. Many individuals’ lives look different right now, and those shifts can impact our mental health. Consider ways to build a flexible but supportive schedule for you and your family to help establish some consistency and structure in your day to day life. 
  • Maintain physical and mental activities. Exercise is known to support our physical and mental well-being. Find ways to incorporate regular physical activity into your routine. Also consider different well-being activities to support your mental health like mindfulness, journaling, or goal setting.
  • Get outdoors while following social distancing guidelines. Outdoor activities and exposure to sunlight are great for your overall health. Take breaks throughout the day to get fresh air and see others in a socially distanced manner. 

Pay Attention to Shifts in Behaviors and Emotions

  • Take a free training on QPR. The QPR Gatekeeper online course teaches participants how to Question, Persuade, and Refer a person who may be considering suicide through a one hour session that can be accessed at any time. Learn more (see Trainings and Webinars tab.)