TL;DR: As of April 27, you can save $65 on virtual therapy services from TalkSpace by entering the code APPLY65 during checkout.
In these increasingly worrisome times, (mis)information overload coupled with isolation and loneliness can dramatically exacerbate feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety — and if you were living with a mental illness before all of this coronavirus shit hit the metaphorical fan, your heightened symptoms can feel suffocating.
Now, for some good news: If you need someone to talk to, there are plenty of healthlines, meditation/mindfulness tools, and online therapy services readily available to provide remote support. To be sure, these resources aren't a fix-all for the systemic issues associated with the way the U.S. approaches healthcare, like long wait times and high costs of care, but they can be immensely helpful in circumstances like these. (Research has shown that teletherapy is actually just as effective as traditional in-person therapy.)
SEE ALSO: 7 meditation and mindfulness apps with free tools for coronavirus anxiety
If you're interested in taking virtual therapy for a test drive, the popular provider Talkspace conveniently happens to be running a promotion ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month where you can save $65 on its services just by entering the code APPLY65 during checkout. Plus, any healthcare or frontline workers can get a month's worth of its Unlimited Messaging Plus plan for free. (That includes 24/7 text, video, and audio messaging with a licensed therapist, who responds daily five days a week.)
To sign up for Talkspace, simply create an account on their website and take a short, 60-second online assessment. You'll then be matched with a licensed therapist who fits your needs and prompted to choose a level of support that fits your budget. (Plans start at $260 a month, $708 per quarter, or $1,248 every six months.) From there, you can begin privately messaging your therapist whenever you need someone to talk to — and if for any reason it doesn't work out, you can cancel your plan anytime.
The great thing about Talkspace is that all of its subscriptions now include a 16-day COVID-19 stress and anxiety management program in addition to a huge free resource hub that addresses all things coronavirus through a lens of mental health (everything from political and social issues to parenting to working from home). It also recently launched therapist-led Facebook support groups and a COVID-19 channel on its Instagram account to make it easy for individuals to find community amid social distancing restrictions.
To get started, simply click the blue button below.
If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support 24/7. Text CRISIS to 741741 to be connected to a crisis counselor. contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET, or email [email protected]. Here is a list of international resources.
Topics Health Mental Health
