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Our last blog post shared resources for some immediate and tangible needs you may have such as food and emergency grants. In this post, we are focusing on needs that are a little harder to define. Self-quarantine and the endless news cycle has made all of us feel frightened, anxious, and eager to find a focus for our energy while staying safe. See below for links to mental health and substance use support, free resources for books and online community, ways to help those in need, and more. This is just a small selection of the many resources available.
The Visual AIDS staff is working from home, and can be reached using each staff member's direct email or at info@visualaids.org.
MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES
NYC Well: your connection to free, confidential mental health support. Speak to a counselor via phone, text, or chat. Call 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)
5 Tips for Maintaining Community During the Coronavirus Crisis
13 Online Recovery Meetings & Groups You'll Want to Check Out
5 Ways to Stay Sober While Social Distancing
Dealing with Disappointment During the Coronavirus Outbreak
CREATIVE WAYS TO VOLUNTEER TIME, GOODS or FUNDS
Sew masks for healthcare providers: Joann Fabrics' Make to Give Response is just one of many resources
Donate existing masks and protective equipment to healthcare providers—peer to peer services include Mask Match, Mask Crusaders and PPE Link.
Donate food to food bank pantries.
Donate funds to NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund
ENJOY FREE BOOKS
Audible.com offers a selection of free audiobooks for adults and children
Haymarket Books is now offering 10 free digital books on changing the world
Goodreads offers lots of free downloads for classics, fantasy and romance novels
LISTEN TO PODCASTS
730 Podcast engages Black mental health professionals, academics, athletes, artists and other cultural influencers in a dialogue around how we got where we are and how we can use our collective wisdom to move forward.
NPR: Code Switch: The Limits of Empathy: fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for, hosted by journalists of color.
The Hilarious World of Depression: A show about clinical depression...with laughs.
Hidden Brain: Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.
Sunstorm: Governing in a Crisis with Rep. Ayanna Pressley Hosted by two of America’s leading activists, Alicia Garza and Ai-jen Poo, where they talk to their friends and sheroes about how women, especially women of color, stay powerful & joyful amidst the chaos of life in America today.
Still Processing with New York Times queer writers of color Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham.