Managing Stress During Coronavirus
Published: April 6, 2020
Expanding Support Services in Response to the Pandemic.
The Coronavirus pandemic is putting added stress on Ohioans already dealing with mental health needs. For people dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation due to problem gambling or any mental health issue, the statewide protective measures being implemented in response to this public health crisis can be overwhelming. That’s why the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) has been urgently engaged with the behavioral health community to expand helpful resources to the people who need them most.
Tele-Health
OhioMHAS and the Department of Medicaid have filed emergency rules to expand and enhance tele-health options for Ohioans. The new rules are designed to make it easier for people to receive counseling and other services by telephone – without the need to travel for in-person visits. Health providers and patients can use landlines, cell phones and applications like Facetime.
Educational Resources
OhioMHAS has developed and distributed tips, videos, fact sheets and social media messaging related to managing Coronavirus stress. The main message is that feeling stress is normal in times of crisis. We can all manage these feelings by taking simple steps, including:
- Get facts and information on prevention and testing from a trusted resource by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
- If you have specific questions, ask an expert by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
- Limit your exposure to excessive media coverage of stressful events.
- If you need help for stress, call the national Disaster Stress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990
Find more Coronavirus information and resources available to help during these stressful times, visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/. For information on responsible gambling practices, visit BeforeYouBet.org.