When the pandemic started, we were hopeful that by the winter holidays COVID-19 would be contained and life as we knew it would resume. Unfortunately, the negative impact of COVID-19 remains active in the United States and beyond. More than 1.25 million people around the world have died and tens of millions more have been infected.
Mandated mask wearing and social distancing to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the death toll defines our existence. Our “new” normal has transitioned into the way of life indefinitely. Not able to interact with our family, friends, and colleagues has challenged our “sense of belonging” and how we socially connect with others.
COVID-19 has created a highly stressful and anxiety-induced bubble we wake up to every morning which can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. To help support our emotional wellbeing, SAMSHA and FEMA partnered with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to develop the Emotional Support Line.
The COVID-19 Emotional Support Line is available to Georgia residents seeking emotional support, community resources, or information about COVID-19 every day from 8 am -11 pm. Georgia residents can call or send a text message to (866) 399-8938 and speak with a trained mental health professional if they have been impacted in any way by the pandemic.
Our resilience, mental health, and emotional well-being are tested every single day. This is the time to realize that being “strong” is a not a guarantee that we will survive the longevity of this pandemic, but expressing fears of the uncertainty in a safe place will help us to continuously navigate through the murky waters of COVID-19. The Emotional Support Line is a safe place with listening ears and resources to help us get through one more day, over one more hurdle, and through one more challenge.
Leave a Message
