How To Access Free And Reduced-Cost Online Therapy And Mental Health Care While You're Stuck At Home

The current situation is a perfect storm for stress, anxiety , and depression , says Robyn Flint, a clinical mental health counselor in Buchanan, Virginia. It doesnt help that the outlets people often use to manage their mental health gyms , your therapist's officeare closed, she notes. What's more, there's a large percentage of U.S. workers directly affected by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 that may not be able to those afford costly services right now.

Still, finding a way to take care of your mental health is *incredibly* importantand there are options, promise. New online resources are becoming available, and many businesses are stepping up to the plate by offering free services to help people get through this.

Ahead, you'll find a whole list of ways you can access free or reduced-cost mental health, mindfulness, and self-care services during the novel coronavirus pandemic. You don't have to get through this alone.

1. Find a therapist through your employee assistance program

If you still work full time, your employer may offer an employee assistance program (EAP) as part of your benefits package. Its designed to help address a wide range of personal problems and concerns that interfere with employees well-being and work performance, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

EAPs vary widely from company to company as far as what types of services are offered, but mental health counseling is often included. Generally they offer a certain number of therapy sessions for free. Even if you assume your company doesnt have an EAP, its worth asking anyway, as it may have instated new policies in response to the health crisis. For instance, Starbucks just recently announced they will cover 20 free therapy sessions for their workers .

How to get it: Talk to HR and check your companys internal website to find out the details of your specific EAP and how to take advantage of it.

2. Talk to a therapist online

With social distancing practices in place, teletherapy options are more important than ever. If you currently have a therapist, you can likely arrange online sessions (video, audio, or text) with them, Flint says. If not, Talkspace is a mental health platform that connects people with trained therapists digitally.

Right now, the service is offering frontline medical workers a free month of online therapy via Talkspaces Unlimited Messaging Plus plan, which includes unlimited text, video and audio messaging with a licensed therapist. If you're not a medical worker, you can sign up for a monthly plan, starting at $65 per month (though they're currently offering $100 off!).

How to get it: Sign up at Talkspace and use code 1004U to get $100 off . Medical workers need to enter their NPI (National Provider Identifier) and state of residence for verification to get their free month.

3. Join a support group through Real

Mental health care platform Real is offering one month of their digital therapy services for free, in order to provide support during the pandemic. You can participate in group discussions in their virtual group salons, have mental health check-ins with therapists, or attend other therapist-run digital events to help you feel more connected.

How to get it: See a list of services and activities and sign up at Real to the People .

4. Practice mindfulness with Aura

Aura is an app to help you practice mindfulness, get better sleep and improve your emotional health. Theyre offering a free three-month subscription which includes unlimited access to their mindfulness meditations, life coaching, inspiring stories, and music, all created by experts.

How to get it: Visit Auras site and use code FINDPEACE2020 at checkout to get three months for free (no credit card required).

5. Meditate with Simple Habit

Meditation is probably one of those things on your to-do list that youve always meant to try but havent quite started yet. Simple Habit is an app that aims to make a daily meditation practice easy by providing 5-, 10-, or 15- minute options. Simple Habit offers a free week, and then its $59.99 per year if you decide to keep it. However, in light of recent job losses, they are offering free premium memberships to all individuals in need starting now until the end of April 2020.

How to get it: Download Simple Habit and sign up for the free-week trial. If you cant pay but want to keep the app, email them at help@simplehabit.com to make arrangements for a free or reduced rate.

6. Find calm with Dark Noise

Are you one of those people whose brain decides to kick into full anxiety mode as soon as you lay down to go to bed? Listening to ambient white noise can help calm your anxiety and soothe you to sleep. Charlie Chapman, founder of Dark Noise, an app that plays a variety of different ambient sounds, announced that in light of the pandemic, hes releasing the beta version for free. The beta version includes daytime white noise options as well. Maybe itll help people cope if they can simulate the sound of an office space or coffee shop while stuck in their homes, he said.

How to get it: You can purchase the Dark Noise app for $3.99 or download the beta version for free , on Apple.

7. Increase your sense of well-being with Headspace

Headspace is an app designed to teach you how to infuse more mindfulness into your everyday life. Being more mindful, even in small activities, can help you feel happier and less stressed . To help doctors, nurses, and other frontline professionals, Headspace is offering the service for free to them.

How to get it: Health-care professionals can learn how to get their free subscription on the Headspace website. Everyone else can download the Headspace app on the App Store for free, too, with in-app subscription options available.

8. Access student counseling services

If you have children at home, its likely that their mental health (and consequently, yours) isn't in the very best place right now. Thankfully, most school districts are providing some type of ongoing free mental health support for kids and their families. This may include 24-hour hotlines, free videos answering common questions, referrals to local providers, lists of helpful books, and online yoga or meditation sessions. In addition, many school counselors are still available via phone or email.

If you are a student, many colleges and universities offer free counseling services through their student health centers. Services range from group therapy to meditation classes to individual therapy. Even though campuses are closed during the pandemic, many institutions are keeping their health services open virtually or over the phone for students at this time.

How to get it: Check the website for your child's school or school district for local details, or call your student health center or check your universitys website for info.

9. Call a national mental health hotline

If you feel your mental health spiraling into bigger issues, its important to seek professional care from a physician or mental health professional, even if thats just via phone or email right now, Flint says. Traumatic events can trigger some serious mental illnesses, including suicidal ideation, so dont brush aside those feelings if you notice them in yourself or with a loved one, she stresses.

For general help with finding mental health resources, contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email them at info@nami.org . If you are in a crisis and need help immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat online with a counselor for free.