Information for self-care

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Coping with anxiety

  • Contact your pastor; a Stephen minister or prayer minister, if you have such a ministry at your church
  • The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a Disaster Distress Helpline, providing 24/7 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. This is a toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service.
  • March 11 New York Times story offers tips for helping teens deal with anxiety
  • Helping kids cope with anxiety from the World Health Organization

A Bioethicist’s Guide to COVID-19 by DePaul University’s Craig Klugman, shared by Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson

Resources for children and families 

Cathy Earl, head of UMCOR, shares these resources from the Church of the Brethren's Children's Disaster Services for helping children cope with COVID-19. Find the resources

Resources for specifically for clergy

NEAC Parish Consultants Everything’s been turned upside down these days: figuring out virtual worship, how to creatively lead Holy Week and Easter celebrations, how to connect pastorally while “social distancing," how to support families and children and community needs. The Parish Consultants are available to help you think through these situations and find the resources you need in your area, and help connect clergy and church leaders to share best practices and good ideas.
For more information, contact Barb Lemmel at barblemmel@mac.com and she’ll connect you with a Parish Consultant.  


The BTS Center (missional successor to the former Bangor (ME) Theological Seminary) and the podcast Reports from the Spiritual Frontier are teaming up offers the following:

  • Faith Leaders Online Prayer Huddle: 9-9:45 a.m. Wednesdays via Zoom — an opportunity to bring our gratitude and our concerns into a sacred space, among compassionate colleagues, for prayer and mutual support. All faith leaders are welcome. Details here
  • Spiritual Practices for Spiritual Leaders During COVID-19:  Join in a Zoom meet-up with other faith leaders during which we’ll explore spiritual practices and patterns of action and reflection. Rev. Nicole Diroff, Program Coordinator for The BTS Center, will facilitate a conversation with Susan MacKenzie, United Methodist spiritual director, retreat leader, Master Naturalist, and Colby College professor, and Aram Mitchell, Executive Director of Renewal in the Wilderness. Learn more and register here
  • Ben Yosua-Davis has recorded a new podcast series focusing on Creativity, Compassion, and the Coronavirus


Pastor Emily Scott, who served in New York City through Hurricane Sandy, has written a post to medium.com, an idea-sharing platform, titled: “Your Brain Won’t Work As Well: Tips for Spiritual Leaders during Covid-19”