COVID-19 Resources
During this period of crisis there is an increasing amount of information available relating to coronavirus and COVID-19. In a socially responsive effort to provide credible, relevant and useful information a list of resources, articles and websites are provided below. They are broadly compiled into 3 groupings: 1) Managing mental health 2) Children, adolescents and parenting 3) Credible updated information sources.
As this is an on-going and fluid situation we will adapt and update the list as necessary.
Managing Mental Health
MGH Psychiatry Guide to Mental Health resources for COVID-19
This 23-page document produced by the MGH Department of Psychiatry provides an in-depth guide to mental health resources, covering 5 domains: 1) General Mental Health and Coping 2) Specific Mental Health Conditions 3) Families/Children 4) Coping Among Healthcare Workers 5) Mindfulness and Other Tools.
Five way to beat anxiety and take back control of your life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A ‘Based on science’ feature through the University of Cambridge, the article provides information and tips on managing anxiety,
Managing Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Resources from the WHO
WHO guidance on Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak as part of risk communication and community engagement technical guidance for COVID-19 response.
Coping with stress during COVID-19
A one-page leaflet with ways to manage stress.
How to address COVID-19 social stigma
A document describing how best to manage social stigma, focusing on language, facts and stigma towards health staff.
Q&A about COVID-19 with Aiysha Malik from the Department of Mental Health on Twitter.
Briefing Note on Mental Health and Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19
A range of resources providing in-depth information on the potential impact on mental health and other psychosocial aspects of COVID-19. Produced by the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.
The Psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence
This article published recently in the Lancet provides a summary of the evidence relating to quarantine and its psychological effects from a review of 24 academic papers.
Coping with Uncertainty in Uncertain Times
Prepared by the University of Newcastle it provides a thought-provoking description of uncertainty and models of understanding and managing it.
Love in the time of COVID-19: The mental health and well-being of individuals and communities
Written as an op-ed by staff of the Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health at the University of Cape Town the piece reflects on the impact of COVID-19 in South Africa, with a particular focus on mental health.
That discomfort you’re feeling is grief
Written for the Harvard Business Review the article explores the role of grief in managing during the coronavirus.
Children, Adolescents, and Parenting
iSchoolAfrica Inclusion Programme resources
An excellent and free online selection of resources for parents and children with Autism. These include apps to help create your own social stories, routines, as well as mindfulness, therapeutic and communication apps.
Autism Speaks COVID-19 resources
A wide selection of resources developed by the U.S. based Autism Speaks relating to COVID-19. These have been designed to support and inform families, adults with Autism, educators and health professionals.
Coronavirus and helping children with Autism
A podcast by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health two experts discuss how the disruptions causes by coronavirus may impact on autistic children. They also provide tips on how to keep well as a parent and reliable sources for coronavirus updates.
Supporting individuals with Autism through uncertain times
A 60 page document from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team. Including detailed resources on 7 support strategies including: Support understanding, offering opportunities for expression, coping and calming skills, maintaining routines and others.
WHO & UNICEF COVID-19 PARENTING – 1) One-on-One Time 2) Keeping it positive 3) Structure Up 4) Bad Behaviour 5) Keep Calm and Manage Stress 6) Talking about COVID-19
6x one-page documents with useful practical tips for parents created by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Lifelong Parenting Health Initiative. These are also available in Xhosa and Afrikaans.
Tips for Parents in the time of COVID-19
An easy to share one-pager with tips for parents developed by the French Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in collaboration with UCT, CARA, SAACAPAP, IACAPAP, and ASA. Now translated into Xhosa, Afrikaans, Zulu, Sepedi and, Setswana
Helping children cope with stress during COVID 19
A one-page leaflet with ways children can manage stress put together by the WHO.
Talking to children about COVID-19
Produced by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Public Mental Health this 3-page document describes how to talk to children at their developmental level and practical tips for what can be done as a parent
Tips for Parents in Confinement Situations
A one-page graphic with practical and simple strategies parents can use.
Created in Belgium this is a short, engaging story told through words and pictures explaining to children what Coronavirus is.
European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Provides a broad range of information focusing on the mental health of children and adolescents. Also gives a large selection of excellent resources and links to individual country child and adolescent mental health associations with a focus on COVID-19 (e.g. American Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, British Psychological Association etc).
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease
Produced by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network the 5-page fact sheet provides a range of information and tips for parents to manage during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Supporting children and young people with worries about COVID-19
A 19-page document by University of Reading and Oxford with advice for parents, carers and people that work with children and young people. Explores and describes a range of practical tips that can be used.
Intellectual Disability and COVID-19 resources
A selection of free downloadable resources from Books Beyond Words for helping people with Intellectual Disability to understand COVID-19.
Credible Updated Information sources for COVID-19
World Health Organisation website providing country and technical guidance, tips to protect yourself, trainings on COVID-19 preparedness, travel advice, and more.
Up-to-date announcements from the WHO.
John Hopkins University coronavirus COVID-19 global cases map
A map with an up-to-date total globally and from individual countries
John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre
A comprehensive website from John Hopkins University with a wide variety of information, podcasts, resources and news items relating to COVID-19.
The Lancet: COVID-19 Scientific Resource Centre
This resource brings together COVID-19 content from across The Lancet Journals as it is published. All of the their COVID-19 content is free to access.
Elsevier: Novel Coronavirus Information Center
This is Elsevier’s free health and medical research on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.