Indiana Launches Website for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Needs During COVID-19 Crisis
A screenshot of Be Well Indiana’s site map.
April 28, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented mental health and substance abuse issues for millions of Americans. In the state of Indiana, the government has responded by creating Be Well Indiana, a resource center for COVID-19 information, personal assistance and mental health issues.
“You may feel differently than you normally do. You may be wondering if you’re “okay.” You may even already be living with mental health issues that have been aggravated by the COVID-19 crisis,” the site’s home page says. “The good news is there are steps you can take, resources you can discover and people you can reach out to who can help you feel better.”
One tab of the site contains information specific to the pandemic, linking to the CDC information page on coronavirus as a trusted information source. Additionally, the site has a link to the ISDH, which displays information such as Indiana’s COVID-19 map. Finally, the COVID-19 section of the website contains a link to a CDC page about preventing stress during the outbreak, including tips such as daily exercise and avoiding overexposure to news and social media.
The site also contains a tab titled “Assistance for Hoosiers.” There, one can find a link to Family & Social Services cash and healthcare benefits, healthcare.gov, free health insurance help to cover children and families, and the state health insurance program (SHIP.) Moreover, the “Assistance” tab has resources to file for unemployment benefits and information about childcare guidelines and benefits.
On Be Well Indiana’s “Mental Health” portal, Hoosiers can take a self-assessment quiz and learn tips on how to take breaks from work or other stressful activities, manage news consumption and do activities to promote wellness. Additionally, they may visit keyconsumer.org to talk to people who are experienced at living with mental health issues. Finally, the site contains help for substance abuse in the form of links to anonymous online meetings. At the bottom of the site, there are numerous other helplines such as the Suicide Hotline (800-273-TALK8255) and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233).
While Hoosiers may feel alone during this pandemic and isolated in quarantine, it is important to remember that there are resources and tips to mitigate the mental health effects of the pandemic. Be Well Indiana may be able to provide such resources.
