Important Information Regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Key information about Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment during Shelter-in-Place order:
- Most providers are serving clients and patients via tele-health, and can provide therapy and treatment via Skype/video or phone calls. Ask about this possibility.
- For those who need more intensive treatment, essential mental health and SUD treatment may still be done in person on a limited basis.
- Hot- and Warm-lines + online and texting resources for live support and help
- For a list of online recovery and other support groups, see below in this list
Online Addiction Recovery Meetings and Support Groups
- NEW RESOURCE: Digital All Recovery Meetings: WEconnect and Unity Recovery are partnering together to offer 4 times daily all recovery meetings to anyone in the world. Meetings will follow an open format and are available to anyone in or seeking recovery. Meetings will be 7 days a week at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 9 PM EST. Join directly by navigating to unityrecovery.zoom.us/my/allrecovery in your browser or from your smartphone.
- 12 Steps.org https://www.12step.org/social/online-meeting-calendar/ Listing of online 12-step meetings on various platforms.
- Al-Anon Electronic Meetings https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/electronic-meetings/ This forum and recovery chat room for Narcotics Anonymous members features voice chat, Skype, and text chat meetings connecting people from around the world.
- Alcoholics Anonymous Online Intergroup http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php Listing of online meetings from AA Intergroup.
- Smart Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php https://www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/smart-recovery-online/ Message board, chat room, online meetings, and online library.
- Adult Children of Alcoholics https://adultchildren.org/quick-search/?audiobt=Click+Here Phone and Online Meetings
- In The Rooms (Online Meetings) https://www.intherooms.com/home/ An online platform supporting a wide range of 12-step and non-12 step meetings
- Bridge Club Virtual Meetings https://www.jointempest.co/bridge-club-events?tag=Virtual%20Events Meetings that are specifically focused on women and LGBTQIA+ folks who are sober or interested in sobriety.
- Refuge Recovery Online Meetings https://refugerecovery.org/meetings?tsml-day=any&tsml-region=online-english Listing of daily online meetings
- Families Anonymous Virtual Meetings https://www.familiesanonymous.org/meetings/virtual-meetings Online meetings for parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, significant others, other family members and friends of those with a current, suspected or former drug problem.
- Life Ring Recovery https://www.lifering.org/online-meetings Listing of online meetings.
- The Temper https://www.thetemper.com/online-recovery-meetings-groups/ An online publication/site that explores life through the lens of sobriety, addiction, and recovery. Includes links to resources
- My Recovery https://www.myrecovery.com/online-meeting/ Online 12-step meetings
- Sober Grid https://www.sobergrid.com A free online social networking platform for people in recovery. Available in mobile app stores
- Narcotics Anonymous https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Listing of online meetings provided by NA.
Mental Health Support and Therapy Resources
Local Resources for Farmers
- Agricultural disaster preparedness planning workbook:
- Center for Dairy Excellence:
- DATCP COVID-19 information and resources page:
- Farm Bureau:
- Harvest of Hope: provides emergency funding (up to $1,500) to farmers. Information and application at:
- UW—Extension resources regarding COVID-19:
General Mental Health Support
Financial Stability Support
Local County Public Health Resources
Getting Involved
I am healthy and want to help my community. What do I need to know to keep myself and others safe and healthy while doing helping work? Helping work might mean taking groceries or medications to neighbors who can’t leave their homes, working at a local pantry, or even starting a card-making campaign for nursing home residents.
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- Wash hands frequently, and upon leaving and entering any building (your home, grocery stores).
- Clean doorknobs and smartphones (how to clean your smartphone) at least daily.
- Only leave home if you are experiencing no symptoms of illness.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others, or better, drop items at the curb our outside their door, using clean hands.
- Use phone, text, or video calls to communicate, minimize or eliminate in person contact and communication with people outside your home.
- Remember the best way to not spread the virus is to think and act as if you actually are sick.
- Donate money to community funds and organizations that you know are stepping up to serve the community.
Mutual Aid groups are platforms for communities to identify what people need and figure out ways to get them what they need, a way of crowd-sourcing solutions in difficult times. Learn more about how to set up your own Mutual Aid group in your community:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19
The World Health Organization has declared the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic, with cases confirmed in almost every nation on Earth.
Up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be found here.
Up-to-date information from the World Health Organization can be found here.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health can be found here
Information on mental health and coping during the COVID-19 outbreak from the Centers for Disease Control can be found here
For more information on COVID-19 and on appropriate measures to take in your home and community, please read these topics in the Network of Care Library:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19, 2019-nCoV)?
The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, and is currently known as “novel coronavirus” (COVID-19), meaning it is a strain of virus not previously seen in humans. This virus presents as an upper respiratory illness with symptoms similar to the common flu and is spreading person-to-person. The virus has caused death, but cases have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness including pneumonia, depending on a variety of factors that are not yet fully known.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, AND WHO IS AT RISK?
Symptoms reported for patients with the virus have included runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and a general feeling of being unwell. The CDC has indicated that individuals may begin to experience the symptoms of the virus 2-14 days after exposure. Individuals who have recently traveled to affected geographic areas and individuals who have had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient are most at risk.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE?
A COVID-19 outbreak could go on for an extended period of time, so you need to create a household plan of action so you will be prepared. The CDC has guidelines to help families create a plan of action, regarding personal health habits for the home, preparations for a temporary closure of school, childcare facilities, or workplace, and how to plan. Visit the CDC website for more detailed information.
HOW CAN I HELP PROTECT MYSELF
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Coronavirus “SCAM ALERT” Warning
Scam artists may post, email and text to promote false information about “cases” of the disease in your neighborhood that do not exist, as well as bogus prevention medication in order to obtain your personal information and your money. They also may ask you to donate to victims through a sham charity or offer “advice” about false treatments for the disease. If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, contact your local law enforcement agency.