Covid-19

During this time of uncertainty it is common for people to experience stress and symptoms of anxiety. Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain that results from very demanding circumstances, while anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress that leads to something with an uncertain outcome. The constant news updates and changes to our daily lives alone are enough to disrupt our thoughts, behaviors and emotions.

It is as important now than ever to practice self-care and utilize the social support of those around you. Consider what you can do today to help relieve the stress. That may mean doing yoga in your house and calling a friend, but there are creative solutions to help through this difficult time. Use this toolkit to address your anxiety by connecting to others or using virtual supports from yoga to AA groups.

Resources:

• Pitkin County COVID-19 emotional check-in
• CDC: Managing Stress & Anxiety
• National Council for Behavioral Health: Resources & Tools for COVID-19
• Facts and Myths of COVID-19
• Learn About COVID-19 to Feel Better Prepared (13 min video)
• Staying Calm and Connected in Uncertain Times (2 min video)

Social distancing is a term that is new to many of us and involves avoiding large gatherings and keeping at least 6 feet (2 meters) between yourself and others when possible. While the goal of social distancing is to reduce the transmission of the virus, and there is good evidence to show that it does, it can be very disruptive to our lives and add to the mental burden many of us are experiencing at this time.

Reduced social contact can lead to feelings of depression and loneliness, which can get worse as time goes on. It is important to find ways to remain connected to your social support network. Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Tonight, get connected to a zoom dinner night with your friends and family across the county or down the street.

Resources:

• American Psychological Association: Tips to Cope with Social Distancing
• The Dos and Don’ts of Social Distancing
• Mental Health Professional Talks about COVID-19 Concerns & Social Distancing (4 min video)

Self-isolation is a step beyond social distancing and involves separation of a person known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease. Experts recommend self-isolation for those who have contacted a health professional and show symptoms of the disease, including fever, dry cough, and fatigue, but haven’t yet been tested yet. It’s a highly effective method for slowing the spread of the virus, but can have a significant impact on mental health.

Quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. This is a strict isolation and is imposed to prevent the spread of disease.

Regardless if you are someone who decides to self-isolate for the benefit of others or is required to be quarantined, the emotional impact of isolation and quarantine can be extremely distressing for most people.

Resources:

• Tips on Dealing with Self-Isolation
• How to Best Self-Isolate if You Have Concerns You May be Sick
• How to Protect Your Mental Health During Quarantine
• The Family Lockdown Guide: How to Emotionally Prepare for COVID-19 Quarantine
• Pitkin County COVID-19 symptom tracker
• Pitkin County COVID-19 emotional check-in

For many, financial fears are at the top of the growing list of things that are causing stress and anxiety related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). When situations threaten our financial stability, it is easy to become overburdened and leave us feeling full or anxiety, helpless and hopeless. While these financial fears may seem impossible to overcome, there are things that you can do and resources are becoming available from a variety of companies and organizations.

Mental Health Fund:

• Aspen to Parachute

Valley-wide Financial Funding:

• Pitkin County
• Eagle County
• Garfield County

Resources:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Protect Yourself Financially from the Impact of the COVID-19
• Information on Unemployment Insurance for Workers Who Miss Time on the Job >Article / Tips on Financial Peace of Mind During COVID-19

It’s important to remember that try as we may, it is impossible to completely insulate children from what is going on in regard to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the impact this is having on everything around them. While they might not fully understand what is going on, it is beneficial to help them express their feelings and make meaning of their experiences in age and developmentally appropriate ways. The fact that they may be out of school for an extended period of time or that parents are suddenly out of work or working from home can cause disruptions to daily routine or raise uncertainty in children.

It’s common for parents to have questions about what children need to know, how to best explain difficult things to them in ways that they understand and how to help them cope with a mix of emotions that may be new to them.

Road Map for Resources
Additional Resources:

• Tina Payne Bryson PhD – Fear Messaging vs. Safe Messaging
• CDC: Talking with Children About COVID-19
• A “Just for Kids” Comic Exploring COVID-19
• Coronavirus and Parenting: What you Need to Know (13 min)
• How to Talk to Your Child About COVID-19
• How to Talk to Kids About COVID-19 (4 min)
• How to Talk to your kids about the news & protect their sense of safety 

If you provide care for an elderly, disabled or chronically ill person, it is very likely that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has made a difficult job even harder and more stressful. In addition to the daily stressors and challenges of caring for another person, you now have to worry about things like: will the there be disruptions to obtaining necessary medications and treatments, will home health support still be come for regular visits, will medical appointments be cancelled or delayed and perhaps most distressing of all, will you transmit the virus to them.

For caregivers who already have a full plate, the additional stressors created by the Coronavirus can feel especially overwhelming and anxiety provoking. As a person who cares for others, it is important that you also take care of yourself emotionally. It can be helpful to know the things that are in your control, as well as the things that are out of your control, so that you can make the most informed decision and manage your worry and concerns to the extent possible.

Resources:

• How to Care for the Elderly Without Putting Them at Risk of COVID-19
• Protecting a Senior Against COVID-19
• 5 Things to Know About COVID-19 and People with Disabilities
• Caregiver Stress – Tips for Taking Care of Yourself
• Self-Care for the Caregiver

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• SBA Disaster Loans: What they are and what you need to know to get one
• An easy-to-read breakdown of the CARES act. The U.S. Chamber of congress breaks down what it covers and what it means for you business.
• Companies like Comcast and Amazon are providing relief for small businesses as well. Forbes has an ongoing list on relief options from these companies that it updates daily.
• States are also offering their own versions of relief options for businesses. The Council of State Chambers curated a list of every action by state. Visit here to understand options specific to your state.
• The Paycheck Protection Program is providing relief to small businesses and their employees. The U.S. Department of Treasury has the documents you need to get started. Read on to see the qualifications and how to apply.

HR RESOURCES

• For many teams going remote, work-life integration has become top of mind again, here’s how to keep your team engaged as they navigate this balancing act.
• A resource to help adjust your management style for social distancing.
• What to do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19
• How to keep your retail workers safe as an essential business.
• How to help your employees find calm during this time of uncertainty.

FAQs

• Business relief loans: How much can I borrow? How do I start? A step-by-step guide that answers these questions and more.
• The difference between laying employees off and furloughing them.
• How will the CARES Act help my small business? A guide for your business.
• Who’s eligible for disaster loans? Most small businesses are eligible for disaster relief loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration details the options available.
• Where can do I apply for a disaster loan? Apply here.

FOR EMPLOYEES

• For those of you who have lost your job please see the Health and Human Resources section below for unemployment support and valley wide funding support
• Several industries are growing rapidly right now and are actively hiring. If your employees are looking for employment options, share this ongoing list of places that are hiring with them.
• Unemployment varies by state. Share these resources with your employees so they can start the process:
• File for unemployment. To get started, select your state from the drop down menu.

PERSONAL SUPPORT

• Taking care of your mental health right now is more important than ever. The Harvard Business Review sheds light on what our discomfort during this time might really be.
• Mental Health America put together a massive list of resources on a variety of mental health topics. You’ll find tools for anxiety, financial resources, resources for immediate response, and more.

OTHER RESOURCES

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a lot great resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
• For small businesses, especially with payroll questions, visit Gusto’s COVID-19 Resource Hub.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has a guide for small businesses with easy-to-understand guides. Additionally, if you have questions you can reach out to the foundation directly.