Mental Health

Linn County Public Health has many mental health resources on their website.

How to Cope with Anxiety about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Information from the Iowa Department of Public Health on copying in these uncertain times.

We know you want to help. Here are some things to think about when lending a hand:

  • Take care of yourself first.

  • Reach out to those in your network as you think is appropriate.

  • If you experience anxiousness and things are becoming stressful, follow these recommendations from IDPH that you can find here.

We know that reaching out isn’t always easy—it’s OK to feel nervous or even uncomfortable at first.  If the above techniques aren’t working, reach out for help to these organizations:

  • If you feel you are in crisis, the Foundation 2 Crisis line at (319)362-2174 or use their chat line by clicking here. Calls to the Crisis Center are confidential. Our counselors answer each call with an open mind, and with respect to you and your situation.  We’re here to listen, give you information, and explore safe options to help you in your time of crisis.

  • Your Life Iowa, the statewide crisis support can also be reached at www.yourlifeiowa.org providing phone, chat and text options.

  • Contact the National Crisis Text Line. To do so, text HOME to 741741. This line is free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Use the Iowa 211 resource and referral helpline.

    • Visit 211Iowa.org.

    • Text your ZIP code to 898211.

    • Dial 211 or 800-244-7431 from any phone. Help navigators are available any time of day and trained to assist individuals in connecting to local services. An interpretation service supports more than 150 languages.

  • Use the Abbe Health Warm Line. External factors – personal, professional or family worries – can bring on mental pain but they might not be dire emergencies. To have the opportunity to talk to a trained listener can help people sort out thoughts and deescalate feelings of anguish. If you’d like to talk, call the the Warm Line between the hours of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. every day.

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to announce the State of Iowa has received nearly $1 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer free counseling to any Iowan who has been affected, in any way, by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The program is called COVID Recovery Iowa. Counseling will take place via virtual sessions, chat or phone call. People of all ages may join groups online to find support and learn new strategies to cope with the effects of the pandemic in a variety of creative ways.

Iowans can access services through the following options:

  • Call the Iowa Warm Line, 844-775-9276; to connect with a peer counselor or request to get in touch with a COVID Recovery Iowa counselor.

  • Visit www.COVIDrecoveryiowa.org and complete a contact form and a counselor will get back to you.

  • Visit https://www.facebook.com/covidrecoveryIowa/ to find tips and resources for contacting a COVID Recovery Iowa counselor.

Use this poster to inform your community, employees, etc. on the COVID Recovery Iowa program.