At the end of December 2019, the government in Wuhan, China, confirmed the detection of a new disease and treatment of a handful of cases. On January 11th, China reported its first death from the novel respiratory illness — dubbed COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019 — and as of this writing there have been 180,000 confirmed cases of the disease and over 7,000 deaths.

We’re seeing disruptions to travel; sporting events, concerts, and conventions canceled; an unstable stock market; schools and workplaces closed or conducting business virtually; the shuttering of bars and restaurants; and the implementation of curfews, quarantines. It’s a reminder that we live in a complex and interconnected world and that we each have a duty — to both the more vulnerable to ourselves — to take this outbreak seriously and engage necessary health precautions to limit its spread.

Because the virus is new, and we don’t know what the future holds, this ambiguity can drive panicked, irrational responses and poor decision making — for now, the most important thing we can do is stay calm and follow the directives of public health professionals.

But, despite the fact that for most us the risk remains relatively low, it’s normal in these times of collective uncertainty to experience stress, anxiety, and fear.

That’s whyTalkspace is increasing access to licensed therapists and providing free resources for both existing users and those who haven’t yet tried the service.

Free Resources from Talkspace

COVID-19 Instagram Channel

Talkspace has created an Instagram channel specifically for concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak. Each day, you’ll be able to ask questions related to coronavirus and relevant topics (anxiety, loneliness, fear, working from home) using the “Questions” feature on Talkspace’s Instagram Stories, where one of our specially trained and licensed therapists will respond. We will make available on Instagram all past Q&As viaTalkspace’s COVID-19 Highlight.

Coronavirus Resource Hub

On the Talkspace Voice we’re creating acompendium of content and resourcesthat address your COVID-19 concerns, specifically from a mental health perspective. On the blog you’ll find an assortment of stories featuring clinically-backed content that addresses key and emerging areas of concern about the virus. You’ll find pieces from our therapists and experts addressing themes of loneliness; isolation; anxiety and fear around family and work; and the long-term implications of the outbreak.

Check back regularly for updates, but below you’ll find our preliminary resources from our licensed therapists and experts:

Free therapy for impacted health care workers

100% therapy donation match

Talkspace Therapy for Coronavirus Concerns

Services for Consumers

In light of the recent pandemic, clients are seeking support from their therapists as they manage their associated anxiety symptoms. Talkspace has created a 16-day therapist-led program designed to provide support specifically for clients looking for help during the outbreak. The therapeutic regimen will include topics and worksheets to help Talkspace users:

During this emergency, when panic and uncertainty seem to increase each day and with each newscycle, Talkspace is providing coronavirus anxiety program free to all users — to calm nerves and improve mental health outcomes — all a part of our mission to broaden access to care and provide safe and effective therapy, anytime, anywhere.

Talkspace therapyis now also available for all to use on Amazon Alexa. You can learn about psychotherapy and use our assortment of self-help exercises. Plus, if you’re a member, you can connect with your licensed therapist via Alexa from the safety and security of your home.

In addition to therapy, Talkspace offerstelehealth psychiatry services. If you need prescriptions and cannot make it to your doctor or psychiatrist’s office, please consider Talkspace as a resource.

Services for Employers

For employers who are interested in providing more services during this time, we now offer discounted access vouchers, at any quantity. Vouchers can be secured immediately and will provide employees the opportunity to engage with a therapist for 3 months. Interested companies can reach out to[email protected]to learn more.

While in many ways our routines are being disrupted and the world feels tumultuous, remember that your feelings — whatever they may be — are valid and that it’s normal to feel unsettled in uncertain periods such as these. Unreasonable or excessive worry, however, will only cause undue strain and could actually tax your immune response. If you need to speak to a licensed therapist who can help calm your fears and assist you in making rational, healthy decisions for you and your family,try Talkspace.

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.

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