COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Wellness Resources
Your emotional health and well-being are of the utmost importance. The following resources are available to support you and offer remote services via phone and telehealth:
- For Postdocs, Staff, and Faculty: Staff and Faculty Counseling and Behavioral Health Associates
- For Students and Medical Residents: Behavioral Wellness Center and UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Additional self-care resources are available on the DGSOM website.
Recommendations from the Healthy Campus Initiative and AVP Wendelin Slusser
- Take care of your body. Eating healthy meals, exercising, getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, and limiting your alcohol consumption can help your immune system. Even while maintaining a safe distance from other people, you can still go outside! Regular exercise can reduce anxiety. Just be sure to protect yourself and others by following these guidelines for managing anxiety and stress.
- Learn and share. Learn best practices from trusted resources on how to limit your exposure to, and the spread of, COVID-19, and share that information with others. UCLA is providing information relevant to our specific roles as students, faculty and staff. The WHO website details actions for health care workers, team leaders, caretakers of children, older adults and people in isolation. The CDC website lists common warning signs of emotional stress responses (including problems with sleep and concentration, and increased drug or alcohol use) and some ideas for how to cope.
- Do things that give you purpose and meaning. Helping others is a gift, and it is good for your own well-being. Many in our community are more vulnerable to the impact of the novel coronavirus. You can help others by offering reassurance and emotional support, for instance.
- Take care of basic needs (including food security). The CPO Food Closet is currently closed but are providing online options, including a gift card program. For additional food resources, UCLA Basic Needs has created a resource guide.
- Take care of your mind. Constant searching, scrolling or consumption of coronavirus news will only make us feel more afraid and powerless. Take breaks from media coverage and use UCLA’s COVID-19 website and Bruins Safe Online for updates rather than checking unreliable sites. For many of us, maintaining routines will help keep us positive, balanced and mentally well.
- Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Reach out to others and offer support, empathy, information and, if possible, tangible help. Stay connected using technology such as video chat, Zoom group calls, and cellphone texting and conversations. Personal relationships are crucial in maintaining perspective and elevating mood.
- Increase your feel-good activities. Whether it’s mindfulness, talking to your friends and family members, going for walks, taking part in sports, journaling, or watching Netflix, now is the time to increase positive experiences in your daily schedule. For a quick stress reliever, UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center offers free guided meditations in English and Spanish.
- Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Let’s work together to address xenophobic sentiments that perpetuate stigma toward people from the countries most affected by COVID-19. Members of our community are experiencing additional fear right now because of the increased suspicion and racism from others who wrongly attach COVID-19 to an ethnicity or nationality. Language like COVID-19 “victims” or “the diseased” is stigmatizing and harmful. Instead, we can say “people who are being treated for or recovering from COVID-19.”
- Pay attention to how you’re feeling. Fear, worry and dread are normal reactions during this unprecedented time. People who have pre-existing mental health concerns are more vulnerable and face a higher risk of worsening mental health as the virus spreads. If you have a history of mental health concerns, form a plan such as how to access health workers, counselors and prescriptions. Resources for students are available at Counseling & Psychological Services and for staff at the Staff and Faculty Counseling Center.
Additional Wellness Resources
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, please call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
We also recommend the World Health Organization (PDF) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites, resources that offer trusted information about mental health considerations.
Free Things to do While Indoors
Several meditation and fitness instructors are bringing their classes and information online for free. Keep your mind and body fit with the following:
Mindful Meditation and Yoga
- Corepower Yoga
- Daily Meditation Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
- Headspace (2-week free trial)
- Meditation Oasis (Online Podcast or Free Meditation RX App)
- Nature Relaxation Films
- UCLA Mindful Awareness Center Guided Meditations
- Yoga with Adriene
Fitness Apps
- Adidas (90-day free Premium membership)
- Nike Training Club (Free Premium membership until further notice)
- Peloton (90-day free trial)
Fitness Online/YouTube
- Barry’s (On Instagram Live)
- Camp Gladiator (On Facebook Live)
- ClassPass
- CompTrain at Home
- Centr by Chris Hemsworth (6-week free trial)
- Daily Burn (60-day free trial)
- Orangetheory
- Planet Fitness (On Facebook Live)
- Rumble (On Instagram Live)
Virtual Exhibits
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Broadway Shows (1-week free trial)
- Disneyland Rides
- Explore.org Live Webcams
- The Getty
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Winchester Mystery House Online Tour