COVID Care–Reflections and Resources (updated February 2022)
Kelly O’Donnell, PsyD and Michèle Lewis O’Donnell, PsyD

Covid care: Promoting and maintaining mental health, resilience, and wellbeing for all persons and peoples (ranging from informal to formal services, guidance, and policies, local through global) during the multi-faceted challenges of COVID-19 and beyond.

1. Reflections
Pandemics, like many crises, bring out the best and the worst in us–our selfless and our selfish qualities. The reality of the uncertainties and anxieties of life, and indeed survival–existential risk–is heavy upon the world. Positively, the current COVID-19 pandemic certainly provides plenty of opportunities for us all, individually and collectively, to reflect on the types of people we want to be, the types of societies we need to build, and the types of changes we have to make.

We acknowledge that there are different views about this pandemic including how best to manage it and future health emergencies via science, public health policy, human rights principles, and international cooperation. We also note that the many overlapping, problems in our world continue unabated–shadow pandemics–even as this covid pandemic dominates the center stage globally: multi-dimensional poverty, protracted violence, human rights violations, gross inequalities, racism, mental ill health, environmental degradation, etc. This is the ongoing, cascading context–full of challenges and opportunities–for relentlessly pursuing sustainable development and wellbeing for all people-peoples and the planet.

Our recent Updates below are compiled for helping ourselves and others with covid care. Examples of issues/resources: anxiety, trauma, depression, confinement, loneliness, loss, grief, relationship strains, coping for children, work insecurities, spiritual struggles, uncertainty/concerns about what is going on, etc. Have a look!

2. COVID-19 Resource Compilations
Global Integration Updates–for colleagues across sectors
–February 2021: Covid Care: Reflections and Resources for Wellbeing
–November 2020: Grieving Well-Healing Well: Resources for Growth during Loss
–October 2020: Tough Times. Tougher People: Best Selves–Better World.
September 2020: Solidarity for Covid-Care: Being Real-Life Heroes
August 2020: Keep Persevering: Stories and Strategies in the Pandemic
June 2020: Managing Stress and COVID-Distress: Faith-Inclusive Resources
May 2020: Staying Sane during COVID-19: Mental Health Resources
April 2020: Confronting COVID-19: “Be smart. Be safe. Be kind.”

Member Care Updates--for colleagues in the faith-based/Christian sector
From our faith-based perspective, we want to be co-workers with God, engaged in many areas of “humanity care.” 
–February 2021: Sojourning with Prayer and Praise (during the pandemic and beyond)
–November 2020: Good Grief: Healing After Loss
–September 2020: Uniting for Covid-Care—Real-Life Heroes
–August 2020: Doing Good–Positive Stories in the Pandemic
–July 2020: Staying the Course: Pandemics-Problems…and Beyond
–June 2020: Managing Stress/COVID-Distress (faith resources)
–May 2020: Staying Sane during COVID-19 (MH resources)
–April 2020: Confronting COVID-19: “Don’t be afraid” (resources)

Resource Compilations from Various Sources–Sources for Resources
Covid Care: Reflections and Resources. Member Care Associates
–Covid Resources–Grief and Bereavement, Dr. Camille Wortman et al., Stony Brook University
The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Mental Health: A Briefing (2020). United for Global Mental Health
WHO COVID-19 Resources and Guidance. World Health Organization
Helpful Thinking During the Coronavirus Outbreak. National Center for PTSD (USA)
A Self-Care Guide…during COVID-19. Mary Hoch Center, George Mason University
COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response. Inter-Agency Standing Committee, United Nations
Webinar Series: Mental Health and COVID-19United for Global Mental Health et al.
Stories from the Field. Mental Health Innovation Network
Altruistic Stories and the 2020 Pandemic. Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Ball State University
Hope and Resilience BlogPsychology Today
Faith and COVID-19 Response. Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities
COVID-19 Resources for Psychological Support. International Union of Psychological Science
COVID-19 and the World of Work. International Labor Organization
The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental, Neurological, Substance Use Conditions. World Health Organization
–etc.!