Mental Health During the Current Crisis

We are all experiencing a very stressful crisis that can affect our mental health. Help is available! Organizations in our community are providing many supportive resources to help us navigate these uncertain times while protecting our mental health. The Weld County website has a great deal of helpful information; North Range Behavioral Health has added additional supportive services to help people cope during this pandemic; and a group of Colorado therapists is offering free or low-fee therapy to all essential workers. See below for more information about these valuable resources.

Managing COVID-19-Related Stress and Anxiety

The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517) is also available.

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Call your health care provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

For more information on reducing the stigma that can be associated with mental health challenges  and more local resources, please visit the Weld County Health Department's Let's Talk web pagehttps://www.weldgov.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=88047.

For more information about how staying active can help reduce stress and anxiety, please visit the Thriving Weld Outdoor Rx website.

Additional resources:

CDC: Stress and Coping During COVID-19 

CDPHE: Reducing Fear and Taking Care of Yourself

Community Laundry Packets

This project supports low income families and those experiencing homelessness by providing free laundry vouchers and detergent.  We have partnered with the Housing Navigation Center which is part of United Way of Weld County to distribute the vouchers to the Evans Express Laundry where laundry can be taken!  If you would like to donate to this project, you can make check payable to the United Way Weld County specified to “I Heart Humanity” or dropping off individual packets of detergent or regular size detergent and facial wipes at United Way Weld County. This non-profit can be reached at ihearthumanityco@gmail.com or on Facebook and Instagram. By supporting this project, you assist in creating a healthier community while also lifting up someone that just wants to feel good about themselves. Thank you to donors who have helped keep this project going since it started in October 2019

GIA Clothing Bank Reopening July 1

The Clothing Bank of the Greeley Interfaith Association (GIA), 228 N. 9^th Avenue, plans to reopen for business on Wednesday, July 1. Reduced operating hours will be Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m-2 p.m. The thrift store was closed by the GIA Executive Board on March 16 in accordance with statewide Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic.

New restrictions are in place for the reopening due to ongoing concerns about the virus. Changes, some of them temporary, include only six shoppers present in the store at one time; face coverings required for all shoppers and volunteers; required use of hand-sanitizer upon entering the store; no children under high school age allowed in the store; no public restroom available; no changing room available; and all donated clothing must be newly laundered. Signs about the new conditions, in effect for the foreseeable future, will be posted both inside and outside the store.

The Clothing Bank has been operating for many years in Greeley and offers good-quality used clothing and shoes for women, men, children and infants. 99% of items are priced at twenty-five cents to five dollars. The store is open to the public and was established to serve vulnerable people in our community. Vouchers for a 90% reduction in prices are available from various city and county service organizations, including the Salvation Army, Weld County Public Health, Catholic Charities, Migrant Head Start, Center for Independent Living, and A Woman’s Place, among others.

No one connected with the GIA or the Clothing Bank receives any income from the store. All the work is managed by volunteers from various faith-based congregations and other community members. Funds collected through donations to the GIA by faith-based community members and Clothing Bank sales is managed and distributed through grants awarded by the GIA Executive Board to local human service organizations. Recipients have included the Weld County Food Bank, United Way of Weld County, the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, the Cold Weather Shelter, the annual Holocaust Memorial Observances Week, Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, and Weld Women2Women, among other nonprofits.