It Was Meant To Be An App To Help Immigrants Lead A Normal Life In The US. Now It's Helping Them Survive The Coronavirus.

Social connection and support are crucial for people in the Alcoholics Anonymous program, so the social distancing mandated by COVID-19 has been particularly stressful. To try to recreate the same atmosphere and safe space, AA groups are moving their meetings online with Zoom. Participants describe it as a "godsend" and say that it helps fill that void during the crisis-filled time of a pandemic.

Social distancing rules are proving to be especially difficult to maintain for people whose family member is dying of the virus. Chaplains in Chicago are finding ways to help families to be with their loved ones in times of illness and so that no patient has to die alone. Chaplains will talk to the patient on the phone, broadcast family members' voices over the rooms' intercoms, and hand nurses prayer cards to give to the patient when they enter the room. The chaplains also work to alleviate the stress of the healthcare workers by praying over specific concerns and wishes that the nurses have.

Social connection is crucial to recovery for people participating in Alcoholics Anonymous, but the quarantine mandated by the coronavirus has made that impossible. Support groups across the state of Washington are grappling with isolation and, in response, have started meeting over Zoom instead. This article talks to several participants to get their take on it. One person in particular said that meeting online has allowed them to attend more meetings, and it has been a source of comfort during quarantine.

A collective of activists and anti-fascists named PopMob has transitioned from protesting right-wingers to producing hand sanitizer. They are working in collaboration with another group called The Rosehip Medic Collective and have produced more than 9,500 bottles (225 gallons) of homemade hand sanitizer. They work with groups like Sisters of the Road, Meals on Wheels, and Portland People’s Outreach Project to distribute the bottles to frontline workers and people experiencing homelessness. They also have a GoFundMe page that has raised over $9,000 to support their efforts.

A new initiative called #Task4Help recruits local university students to deliver groceries and other supplies to people who need to be self-isolated during COVID-19. It was originally started by an app called UniTaskr that posted freelance opportunities for students, but now it has over 10,000 students using the app to help out. One user describes the service as easy to use and delightful.

Runners in New York City are no longer able to freely exercise in public parks due to the number of other people now seeking escape in the parks during the quarantine. To compensate—and to lend a hand—a group of runners are now doing "runs" for people in need to pharmacies and other essential businesses to fetch supplies. Right now most of the errands run are for other members of the club, but they are also available for non-runners.

As more individuals are hospitalized and in critical condition from COVID19, religious leaders are finding unique ways to connect. While the norm may be to be at bedsides, in this unprecedented time where that isn’t possible, chaplains, rabbis, and priests are using FaceTime and texting to connect with members of their communities and offer prayer and blessings.

In Colorado, most mental health services have been moved online as a response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Called telemental health, the virtual sessions give those that regularly see a therapist, or need to because of increased anxiety during the pandemic, an option to from home. While this is being seen as a breakthrough in services, barriers like access to technology and the lack of interpersonal connection provides their own set of challenges.

Communities in Nigeria have been using WhatsApp to manage isolation and help provide support to their fellow residents during the coronavirus pandemic. In many instances organizations and individuals are helping to raise and provide funds to those who are experiencing financial hardship.

Many psychologists and counselors have moved their therapy sessions online due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has been received largely positively across the nation. As the pandemic continues, however, there is an increasing need for therapists who are trained to work with other therapists or first responders, so some states are now increasing online educational training, using social media to make connections, and utilizing professional organizations to "keep records of therapists available and trained to work with other first responders."