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Supporting Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Support Groups

During these challenging current times that we all find ourselves in, it is important to take time for self-care. The Office of Risk Services is continuing to offer support group sessions with additional providers and areas of focus starting in July to help support the mental health and well-being of our faculty and staff. 

On Tuesdays starting July 7th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, Silvia Austerlic, MA, will facilitate El Jardin de la Escucha, a healing justice listening circle.  In these times of extreme uncertainty, adversity, and new possibilities, the healing justice listening circle supports individual/collective well-being and builds community based on the recognition of shared humanity and interconnectedness. The group will offer a “safe and brave space” for participants to engage in self-reflection, bearing witness and sharing authentically, and building community by acknowledging everyone present and helping focus intention and energy on common stories, values of care and compassionate action. Register for this support group here. Space is limited to 20 participants each week.

On Wednesdays starting July 8th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, Ryan Cannon-Scott, MA, CPC will be leading healing circles; co-creating community, where participants will have a safe space to bring their challenges and concerns; to give and receive support. With a focus to provide a sense of community for those who may be struggling or feeling isolated, the group sessions will include relaxation, mindfulness, and stress relief activities. Register for this support group here. Space is limited to 15 participants each week.

On Thursdays starting July 2nd from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Laurel Andres, LMFT, will continue offering support group sessions for faculty and staff with a focus on the cumulative stress and anxiety brought on by COVID-19, social distancing, and the current cultural climate.  This weekly support group will provide a confidential and nurturing space to explore personal and collective stressors and utilize the wisdom of the group as well as didactic modules to build skills around self-care and learn different approaches to productive conversations. Register for this support group here. Space is limited to 25 participants each week.

Additional Resources

Below are some resources for faculty, staff and students from our department, the campus community, sister campuses, and companies around the globe to help support your mental health during this time.

How to care for yourself:

How to talk to others about risks and fears:

How to care for others:

Recorded Webinars 

Useful Apps

Meditation and relaxation:

  • Headspace's free Weather the Storm meditations, plus other free content for a two week trial
  • Calm has specific meditations, sleep stories, and music for free to support users during this time, plus other free content for a seven day trial
  • Stop, Breathe, and Think, a free app for five minute pauses
  • Ten Percent Happier has a Coronavirus Sanity Guide with free meditations, podcasts, blog posts, and talks
  • UCLA Mindful App has free English and Spanish meditations

Coping with stress and anxiety:

  • PsyberGuide helps you choose a Mental Health app that is best for you
  • Sanvello, an app with techniques for reducing and treating stress, anxiety, and depression, has free premium access through the COVID-19 crisis
  • Happify has free content available to help overcome negative thoughts during the COVID-19 outbreak
  • MindShift CBT has free content to help reduce worry, panic, and social anxiety

Insomnia

  • CBT-i Coach has free cognitive behavioral therapy to help address insomnia

For more resources on how to stay well during shelter in place, please visit our Virtual Wellness Resources page.

Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 News:

For questions regarding wellness programming, please contact Jessica Bulleri, Wellness Coordinator at jbulleri@ucsc.edu, or questions regarding mental health wellness resources please contact Cindy Delgado, at cadelgad@ucsc.edu in the Office of Risk Services.