Snohomish County used federal CARES Act funds to create an outreach counseling program to help residents stricken by anxiety, depression or stress during the pandemic. | Pexels
Snohomish County used federal CARES Act funds to create an outreach counseling program to help residents stricken by anxiety, depression or stress during the pandemic. | Pexels
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Snohomish County residents different levels of stress, trauma, depression and anxiety, so the county created the COVID Outreach Counselors to help them rebuild their lives.
The counselors will help residents find the resources and services they need to recover from the pandemic's mental effects and provide short-term interventions to give them emotional support, Snohomish County reported on its website.
The outreach gets its funds from the federal CARES Act. The Snohomish County Department of Human Services partnered with Volunteers of America Western Washington to start the counseling program.
“We know that pandemics like COVID-19 have a tremendously negative impact on both physical and mental health,” Snohomish County Director of Human Services Mary Jane Brell Vujovic said, the county’s website reported. “We have set up very effective care for those who contract the virus and are striving to do more in providing support to our community members. This new program will help us mitigate the negative outcomes from the stress, anxiety, and depression triggered by the pandemic.”
Outreach counselors in the program will connect Snohomish County residents with the resources and services they need to cope with pandemic-related depression, anxiety, stress and trauma, the county reported.
County residents can call 211 for a direct referral. Counselors will accept referrals from family members, coworkers, neighbors, teachers or anyone expressing concern.
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