Employee Assistance Program COVID-19 resources

Each of the links below are up to date information about the coronavirus, its current level of infection, and steps recommended to remain safe.

• Boston Public Health Commission coronavirus information page
• City of Boston’s central coronavirus page
• City of Boston’s categorized list of resources, offered in 10 different languages, for COVID-19
• The state's central COVID-19 information page
• Massachusetts Frontline Worker Central Resource Page
• The Center for Disease Control
• The World Health Organization COVID-19 Page

Phone lines for more non-emergency COVID-19 support

211: Call 211 to receive non-emergency information such as shelter locations, disaster assistance programs, or how to volunteer

311: Non Emergency City Services and Information.

617-534-5050: Mayor’s Health Line

1-844-422-6277: Personal Care Assistant Hotline

617-660-5399: Nursing Home Family Resource Line, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week

Economic, legal, and other essential resources

The City of Boston has resources to support the Internet connectivity and technology needs of Bostonians during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response.



The City of Boston has listed resources for tenants at risk of eviction following the October 17 end of the statewide eviction moratorium.



The City of Boston has expanded food access through Boston Resiliency Fund Grants, click here to find out more.

The Lawyers for Civil Rights Group offers this page with helpful resources for those dealing with legal issues or unemployment.

The Massachusetts State Government has a centralized economic and financial resource page for state residents.

A Pandemic EBT service is offered for families in need of extra financial support for food while schools are closed.

The Department of Neighborhood Development is currently offering applications for a relief fund for rental residents at risk of losing their housing. 

The Boston Home Center is available for assistance and referrals as well if you continue to struggle with making home payments as a homeowner or renter.



The Greater Boston Food Bank is still offering essential support and food for the community in this time of need, and is open to volunteers



Check out the Project Bread Food Source hotline (800-645-8333), or their information on food pantries and community meal programs.

It is being recommended that all individuals wear face coverings for the duration of the crisis.  This video from the Surgeon General of the CDC teaches how to make a cloth face mask.

Mental Health Articles and Resources

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is conducting support groups via telephone:  

• Mondays at 6:30 p.m. (Starting March 23)
• Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (Starting March 25)
• Saturdays at 10 a.m. (Starting March 21)
• Call 508-206-8720 (No password required)
• For more information, email jmaguire@namimass.org

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides free, 24/7 phone support to somebody in distress, as well as prevention and crisis hotlines for individuals who are struggling, or their friends and family. The number is 1-800-273-8255

National Domestic Hotline:  1-800-799-7233

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Boston Police safety advisory and list of support services for victims of domestic violence

LifeLink provides peer support for individuals struggling with mental health or substance abuse related concerns.  The LifeLink Peer-to-Peer Warm line is 855-466-7100.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers online support groups for individuals facing depression, bi-polar and anxiety. They also offer groups for friends and families of people struggling with these mental health issues. Free to register, completely anonymous and confidential, no webcam necessary.

Samaritans Vritual SAFE-PLACE meetings are available for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide.

MassSupport.org has both resources and an events page with free virtual informational and community coping groups for Covid-19.



Care Dimensions is a hospice organization that also hosts numerous support groups for those struggling with grief and loss.   Check out their event calendar for topics, dates and times.  

This page from the Alzheimer’s Association gives tips to caregivers of individuals with dementia during quarantine.

McClean Hospital gives more self-care advice for caregivers.

This article from the AARP discusses tips on managing an individual's finances as a caretaker.  The AARP also continues to urge older Americans to continue to practice safe social distancing as states reopen, and shared this article on prioritizing mental health.

The APA shared this article to help guide those coping with grief and loss.

More Websites with COVID-19 Stress Tips

• Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Stress Management
• World Health Organization
• Johns Hopkins Medical Center
• National Institute of Mental Health
• American Psychological Association 
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 
• MAYO Clinic
• McClean Covid-19 Mental Health Resources List.

More Articles on Mental Health

• Ezra: "Remote Working & Mental Health: A Young Professional's Guide"
• CNN: "Five Things the Pandemic Has Revealed About Well-Being"
• CNN: "These people thrived in pandemic isolation — and aren't ready to return to 'normal' socializing"
• Online Therapy Directory: "Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression up 235% During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Here's Who It's Impacting the Most".  Includes linked resources and citations.
• NBC News: "How COVID-19 is taking a harsh mental health toll on young adults".
• American Psychological Association: "Identifying signs of stress in children and teens"
• Business Insider: "12 ways to cope with coronavirus anxiety, according to psychologists"
• Future of Personal Health: "You Are Not Alone: Mental Health Struggles During Coronavirus"
• PBS News Hour: "Why Your Mental Health May Be Suffering in the COVID-19 Pandemic How to Stay Physically and Mentally Healthy While COVID-19 Has You Stuck at Home"
• World Economic Forum: "10 Tips to Safeguard Sleep in the Anxious Times of COVID-19" 
• The National Center for PTSD shared on managing stress associated with COVID-19.
• The Suicide Prevention Resource Center offers an extensive mental health resource page.
• The Suicide Prevention Lifeline separately discusses emotional well being at this link.
• Cotswoldco shares a page on self-care and creating a healthy workspace while working from home 

Meditation Apps and Resources

• The Mindfulness App 
• 10% Happier 
• Headspace

Telehealth Links

For individuals who have Blue Cross Blue Shield: Well Connection, Download the Wellconnection app at wellconnection.com, speak live with a real doctor for both medical and mental health concerns. This service is secure and confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Harvard Pilgrim Telehealth Doctors on Demand
• Allways Health Partners Telemedicine
• National Health and Human Services Telehealth Information Page

Recovery Resources

The City of Boston’s Recovery Services Team is available to assist any working to maintain their recovery from substance use during this time. 

Here's a repository of digital support for those looking for resources to help maintain their recovery.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration created a page discussing social distancing, mental health self-care, and more.  They also offer this informational page on coronavirus, and this 24/7 crisis line.

Here's a directory of Internet-based Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

You can find a list of Narcotics Anonymous meetings online.

SMART Recovery also offers online meetings for individuals in recovery or struggling with substance abuse. There are different formats and group sizes to choose from.

Al Anon offers online and phone support meetings for anybody who is affected by alcoholism, including family and friends.

In the Rooms is a coordinated peer recovery community, offering online support.

Adcare offers outpatient substance abuse counseling, groups, and more through telehealth services.

Entertainment, Self Care, and Education

The Boston Public Library offers an extensive selection of online audio books and magazines for free. 

The Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series is live, offering free virtual classes.

This Activity Book for Kids was made in collaboration with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, the Boston Transportation Department, and DoIT.  

My Niche Academy has easy to browse tutorials on how to use BPL's online resources and other apps!

Insider.com offers this list of virtual tours and ways to entertain yourself and your family while at home.

The USS Constitution Museum features a virtual tour, with online activities and the ability to browse collections of artifacts.

The Museum of Science is offering free webinars directed especially towards kids who love math and science!



Bostonusa.com has more virtual tours, performances, and shows available on their website.

Reach Out Massachusetts: The Task Force to End Loneliness & Build Community addresses isolation, click to find out more!

Youth links, EDUCATION ACCESS AND Child care

Boston Public Schools is currently offering free meals for breakfast and lunch, locations are marked in the link. They also update this page weekly with learning resources arranged by grade level. You can apply for a chromebook if your child is a student of BPS and has not already received one.  They are also partnering with various agencies to offer virtual trainings throughout May and June on different topics, from parenting tips to health use of technology.



EEC Child Care:  Be sure to review the State of Massachusetts’s official child care rules and services available for exempt emergency essential workers if you are an essential worker during the pandemic. 

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers this resource and tips page geared towards families, and even offers specific areas to focus on based on the age of the children at home.

Help teens cope with missed milestones through these suggestions from the APA.

The National Institute for Mental Health has a page for helping kids and teens cope with disasters.  



Boston Children's Hospital offers these helpful coping skills for parenting challenges during the crisis, as well as advice on helping your kids balance screen time and healthy play during covid-19

This comic linked through National Public Radio is a great way to talk to young kids about the disease.  



The National Association of School Psychologists offers this page of tips of their own about how to talk to children about the virus.

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute offers this useful page on how to make a Calm Down Spot for young children during quarantine.  

UNICEF shares mental health protection tips for teenagers.



The Mayor's Office of Workforce Development is offering applications to pay for up to three years of community college for eligible low-income students



Please reach out to us at 617-635-2200, or by email at eap@boston.gov if you have any additional resources or information that would be helpful to add to this list. Stay safe.