The Oregon Health Authority recently asked people in Oregon to share stories of how they were supported by others when they came down with COVID-19.

Enduring a pandemic can be a lot less stressful when we lift up each other, tend to one another’s needs and reach out when we need help. It can be easy to be overwhelmed by bad news, online hostility and feelings of hopelessness and loneliness.

But it may help to remember your community, whatever it may look like – family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, care givers or social workers, and to be there for each other.

We understand that not everyone has a social support system. Our website (http://ow.ly/fLPg50IoOGb) offers a list of crisis support hotlines, including for mental health and youth, as well as contact information for local mental health programs, listed by county.