COVID-19
Resources & Supports
In these unprecedented times, the need for connection, community, and care is critical -
now more than ever.
YouthREX has developed this page to curate and share resources, responses, and creative ways for youth workers, young people, and organizations to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Youth need supports to deal with the disruptions that we are all experiencing in these challenging and unprecedented times.
We will keep updating and adding new resources, so please do check back periodically. Be sure to visit the Featured Collection on our Knowledge Hub for additional resources to support your work, and watch past conversations in our 2020 series on Reimagining Youth Work in a COVID-19 Era.
YouthREX’s physical offices may still be closed but we are working remotely and continuing to provide supports and services to Ontario’s youth sector.
Have resources to share?
Email us at info@youthrex.com and we'll add to this page.
Helpful Resources
For up-to-date information about Canada’s COVID-19 response, please visit the Government of Canada’s website and the Government of Ontario’s website. If you are looking for information about COVID-19 vaccines, you can learn more from the Government of Ontario.
You can also access resources in multiple languages to support your community efforts in responding to
NO B*S* FACTS ABOUT COVID-19
COVID-19 Awareness Tool Kit
Public Health Agency of Canada
Coming back from COVID-19: Matt’s story
Government of Canada
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
World Health Organization
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
World Health Organization
LEADING CHANGE
Fight COVID Racism
Platform dedicated to tracking and reporting anti-Asian racism and xenophobia in Canada.
10 Ways to Fight for Social Justice During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Palika Makam, Teen Vogue
What can you do to fight stigma associated with COVID-19?
World Health Organization
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS
Kids Help Phone
Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service, offering professional counselling, information, and referrals. Kids Help Phone's mandate includes former youth in care of any age.
LGBT Youth Line
Confidential and non-judgemental peer support through their telephone, text, and chat services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, queer, and questioning young people.
COVID-19 Student Support Network
A space for postsecondary students to share their thoughts and feelings towards the uncertainty and stress around online learning.
Good2Talk
Free, professional, and confidential counselling support for Ontario postsecondary students.
Naseeha Youth Helpline
Peer support for Muslim youth.
COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub
Jack.org offers this hub of resources to help you take care of yourself and look out for the people you love during this challenging time.
Be There
An engaging and comprehensive resource from Jack.org for young people to learn how to support each other through mental health.
BounceBack
A free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry.
How teenagers can protect their mental health during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A blog post with tips and resources from UNICEF Canada.
How to Manage Return Anxiety as the Lockdown Lifts
A factsheet from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
School Mental Health Backpack
Children's Mental Health Ontario
7-Day Mindfulness Journal |
Guided Activities & Meditations
These resources designed for youth by New Leaf Foundation support mental health & wellbeing.
NO B*S* FACTS ABOUT COVID-19
COVID-19 Awareness Tool Kit
Public Health Agency of Canada
What We Know So Far About… Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Public Health Ontario
Coronavirus: 7 Steps to Prevent the Spread of the Virus
World Health Organization
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
World Health Organization
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
World Health Organization
SELF-CARE
Meditation and Mindfulness:
Insight Timer
Free app and online community featuring guided meditations, music, and talks posted by contributing experts.
Liberate
Free meditation app for the Black community.
Yoga with Adriene
Free online movement/yoga videos.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
Mind Beacon
Mind Beacon is offering free, digital mental health supports for dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and more.
COVID-19 Psychological Support (CPS) Program for Essential & Frontline Workers
The Ontario Psychological Association and 211 Central are working together to support mental health responses for essential and frontline workers in the City of Toronto who do not have mental health coverage, are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, and would like to access counselling or mental health support. Call 2-1-1 (it's free, confidential, available 24/7, and available in 150+ languages).
Cultivating Resilience in a Pandemic
Yael Melamed, psychotherapist and executive coach, offers advice for finding optimism and community in a challenging time.
Care For Your Coronavirus Anxiety
This toolkit was compiled by Shine, in partnership with Mental Health America.
How to Manage Return Anxiety as the Lockdown Lifts
A factsheet from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Mental Health & COVID-19 Pandemic
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Take Care 19 (Toronto/GTA+)
Accessible and inclusive mental health resources for coping through COVID‑19.
Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall)
Online service providing access to millions with anxiety, depression, and other common mental health issues.
Wellness Together Canada
Get connected to mental health and substance use support, resources, and counselling with a mental health professional.
Practising mindfulness can help us through the coronavirus pandemic
Kira Jade Cooper, The Conversation
9 mindfulness exercises to help you manage COVID stress
Amy Rigby, Fingerprint for Success
WORK FROM HOME (WFH) RESOURCES
How to Work From Home, if You’ve Never Done It Before
Jen A. Miller, New York Times
Let artists teach you how to work from home (because they've been doing it forever)
Leah Collins, CBC Arts
What Your Coworkers Need Right Now is Compassion
Amy Gallo, Harvard Business Review
WFH Essentials
YouTube
ARTS & CULTURE
OverDrive
Use this app to borrow e-books and audiobooks from your library.
Social Distancing Festival
A site for celebrating art from all over the world.
What is the role of art in helping us better understand coronavirus?
Leah Collins, CBC Arts
Need a quick stress break? Here are literally dozens of free colouring pages from Canadian artists
Mercedes Grundy, CBC Arts
There's a massive free catalogue of Indigenous films online — and we have 6 picks to get you started
CBC Arts
12 easy and fun mental health practices to try with your children at home
School Mental Health Ontario
Talking to your anxious child about COVID-19
Children's Mental Health Ontario
Supporting Learning From Home: A Guide For Families
An infographic developed by Zoom and the International Society for Technology in Education.
Learn@Home
A resource for families with children of different ages & areas of interest.
As school goes online, educators cannot forget students’ social and emotional learning
Dr. Tawanna Jones Morrison, Ms.
Parenting in the time of COVID-19
Six one-page resources for parents from the World Health Organization that cover planning one-on-one time, staying positive, creating a daily routine, avoiding bad behaviour, managing stress, and talking about COVID-19.
COVID-19 Relief Project
Parents of Black Children (York Region), funded by the Children’s Aid Foundation.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
World Health Organization
What We Know So Far About… Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Public Health Ontario
School Mental Health Backpack
Children's Mental Health Ontario
How to Manage Return Anxiety as the Lockdown Lifts
A factsheet from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Back-to-School FAQs on Children’s Health & COVID-19
Joanna-Trees Merckx, Dimitri Van der Linden & Jay Kaufman, The Conversation
How Parents Can Be ‘Emotion Coaches’ as Kids Navigate Back-to-School During COVID-19
Dillon Thomas Browne, Heather Prime, Jennifer Jenkins & Mark Wade, The Conversation
How can we support you and your work during this time?
Do you want to learn about online tools for community engagement and public education? Do you want support in navigating our online Knowledge Hub? Do you need to access resources or evidence to support your work? Contact Kathe, our Knowledge Exchange Director.
Do you have questions about online learning? Do you have an idea for a virtual learning opportunity or community of practice? Contact Katarina, our Learning & Knowledge Exchange Manager.