Please find below a list of links to external resources and strategies related to navigating and coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Resources span from those focused on mental health and wellbeing to trauma specific resources, and resources for healthcare workers and clinicians.
For official updates on COVID-19, please refer to the Federal Department of Health and your state or territory Health Department.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Black Dog Institute – Self Care Planning: Self-care is an important part of daily life, however during times of uncertainty and this unprecedented situation with COVID-19 the need for self-care is imperative. This resource provides tips to incorporate self-care into your day.
Working from Home
- Black Dog Institute: Webinar – Mental health and working from home Dr Jill Newby, Associate Professor of Psychology at UNSW and based at the Black Dog Institute, shares practical ways for workplaces to cope with COVID19 related anxiety. This page also has links to other webinars related to mental health and COVID19
Healthcare workers:
o COVID Trauma Response Working Group: Coping with stress associated with COVID19- advice to hospital staff: This video is from doctors, psychologists and researchers at the NHS Traumatic Stress Clinic in London, the UCL Institute of Mental Health and the COVID Trauma Response Working Group to colleagues in the National Health Service and all over the world affected by the coronavirus
Clinicians and academics
- Virtual not Viral: This site has curated links and resources for clinicians and academics. Resources are divided into topics of ‘Wellbeing’, ‘Researching’, ‘Writing’ and ‘Work at home’.
- 5 Strategies for Writing in Turbulent Times: Writing productivity coach Chris Smith discusses how to manage distraction and presents five strategies for maintaining focus during this uncertain time.
Trauma
- Global Collaboration on Traumatic Studies: The traumatic stress societies that are united in the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress (GC-TS) have collected relevant information on the COVID-19 virus and measures we can take, the consequences and how to respond to those who suffer from the consequences and how we support our health professionals. In addition, they outline a number of COVID-19 and trauma research projects that are currently being investigated.
- COVID Trauma Response Working Group: The COVID Trauma Response Working Group has been formed to help coordinate trauma-informed responses to the COVID outbreak. Their site has an extensive list of Useful evidence-based resources for clinicians coordinating psychosocial responses to COVID19.
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) COVID-19 Resources: ISTSS has complied a list of resources including practical strategies for delivering telehealth, emotional coping for healthcare staff and assessment measures to assess for COVID-19 related trauma.
Vulnerable Population Groups
- Vermilion Project: Common questions and Community Care for the Vulnerable: Provides a list of general resources and has complied a section of tips for what vulnerable people can do in order to protect themselves and stay safe
- Ethnolink: Covid-19 resources in community languages, find information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) in your preferred language: The resources available on this page have been published by trusted authorities such as the Department of Health (Australian Government), Department of Home Affairs, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and translated into a number of languages. The information is updated regularly.
- Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC): COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response: IASC has put together information and guidance for a number of areas with a focus on vulnerable populations, including mental health and psychosocial aspects, persons deprived of their liberty and gender considerations.
Parents and Children
- Black Dog Institute: Coronavirus: Reassuring your child about the unknown: Dr Aliza Werner-Seidler, Senior Research Fellow and Clinical Psychologist at Black Dog Institute shares some helpful tips and strategies to reduce COVID-19 related anxiety in children and explains how to support their wellbeing during this time.
General Resources
- Crisis App – Directory of resources or services you need in an emergency, or where and how you can help. The Crisis App was born during the bushfires from a desire to better connect the generosity of everyday Australians who wanted to help with people who needed help. They are a team of volunteers crowdsourcing resources, and matching requests and offers of help. They are a way for people to help people in times of national crises.
