Dear Neighbor,

Throughout this crisis, you’ve heard a lot about how to keep yourselves and your families safe from COVID-19.  These practices – like washing our hands frequently, wearing a mask in public, and staying at least six feet away from others -- are our best defense against this virus, and it’s crucial that we don’t ease up on them now.

But it’s also important to remember that the side effects of an all-consuming crisis like this one are also mental and emotional. Constant worry about health and finances alone is enough to cause mental distress, but the problem can be exacerbated further by the challenges that accompany self-isolation.

According to preliminary data collected late last month, more than one in four Americans reported symptoms that met the criteria for serious mental illness or distress – a surge of roughly 700% compared to data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey.

So, I’d like to take a moment to share a few mental health resources, as well as some resources specifically for those in our community most vulnerable to mental distress in crises:

Local Resources:

• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board offers help for mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities. Click here for a flyer on getting help during COVID-19, or call 703-383-8500 for more information and to apply for services.

• Prince William County Community Services Board provides mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse, emergency services and early intervention programs for residents of Prince William County. You can visit their website for more information, or call 703-792-7373 (Woodbridge) or 703-792-5241 (Manassas) if you need assistance.

• PRS provides skills training and supports to individuals living with mental illness, substance use disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders  throughout Northern Virginia and in the District of Columbia. For more information on services offered in Virginia, call 703-536-9000 or click here.

• If you need mental health support, or assistance with other essentials like finding food and paying rent/mortgage, dial 211 to be connected with someone who can help.

For Immediate Help:

• Disaster Distress Helpline. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health emergencies.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or click here to chat online. Offers 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

• Caregiver Help Desk. Contact Caregiver Action Network's Care Support Team by dialing 855-227-3640. Staffed by caregiving experts, the Help Desk helps you find the right information you need to help you navigate your complex caregiving challenges. Caregiving experts are available 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET.  
  
•   If you are in an emergency, call 911.

For LGBTQ+ Individuals:

• LGBT National Help Center. Call 800-246-7743 or visit glbthotline.org. Offers a talkline and weekly chatrooms for youth, providing confidential peer-support, information, local resources and community. 

• The Trevor Project. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.

• Trans Lifeline. Dial 877-565-8860. Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers.

For Survivors of Assault and Abuse:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline. For any victims and survivors who need support, call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

• The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline
  Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

For Veterans

• Veteran Crisis Line. Call 1-(800) 273-8255 and press 1, text 838255, or click here to reach a qualified responder with the VA.

• Department of Veterans Affairs. Click here for a resource guide to help veterans manage stress during the pandemic.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that my office is here to help. Be sure to visit the COVID-19 page on my website for more information and resources. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress