Health and Wellbeing
(Updated Oct. 7 2020)
The City of Eugene’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of the community. See the follow list of resources and tools to help with your physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Roll Up Your Sleeve
Getting a flu vaccine this fall can reduce your risk of getting flu and help save scarce medical resources needed to care for people with COVID-19. It’s important for everyone to do their part to stay healthy this flu season. Prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses:
- Mask Up: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask when out in public.
- Lather Up: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Sleeve Up: Roll up your sleeve to get a flu shot.
The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people protected from flu.
Learn More
- Healthcare
- Mental Health Support
- Domestic & Sexual Violence Support
- Helpful Articles
- Physical Distancing Fun
COVID-19 Test Site Finder
Oregon Health Authority has introduced a new online tool to find the nearest testing site: COVID-19 Test Site Finder
- If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your healthcare provider or telehealth program to discuss whether you should be evaluated for testing.
- Each coronavirus test provider will determine if testing is appropriate based on your symptoms, risk factors, and test availability.
- Due to an increase in demand, there may be longer than usual wait times for testing and results in certain areas.
Free and Charitable Clinics
- Community Health Care Centers of Lane County: Community Health Centers of Lane County aims to offer the people of our community access to quality healthcare services regardless of their ability to pay. See their website for details about locations and payment options.
- 4J Student Health Center: The 4J Student Health Center at Churchill High School, 200 North Monroe Street, will continue to provide healthcare for 4J students. Call 541-720-5227 for details and current hours.
Insurance Information
- COVID-19 and Health Coverage in Oregon: What do You Need to Know?
OSPIRG Foundation has prepared a guide to help you understand how you can get health coverage if you’re at risk of losing employer-sponsored insurance, what special protections have been created for insured consumers in Oregon, how insurance coverage can help you during the outbreak, and what benefits are available to all Oregonians under emergency measures. - Oregon Health Plan: If you’re uninsured or recently laid off, you may be eligible for no cost coverage through the Oregon Health Plan, including coverage for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.
For Older People
- Medicare and Coronavirus: Medicare covers the lab tests for COVID-19. You pay no out-of-pocket costs. Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine.
Transgender People
- Trans People and COVID-19: The National Center for Transgender Equality published this resource specifically for transgender people and their families.
Additional Resources
- Veteran Resource Navigator : The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs has developed an online tool to help guide veterans and their families in recovery in the wake of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and to inform them of any changes to their earned benefits. The tool includes resources that are organized by topic, including Economic, Health, Education, Housing and Food, and other resources. Veterans can also access additional assistance by calling an ODVA Veteran Resource Navigator at 800-692-9666.
- COVID-19: Live Healthy Lane’s Response and Resources: See a list of resources complied by Live Health Lane, a collaborative dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our community.
Taking care of your emotional health and wellbeing is important right now. With constant news updates, we understand how easy it is to become anxious and stressed, and while it’s important to remain informed, persistent checking of the news and social media coupled with physical distancing can affect you deeply.
We think it’s vital that we all try to decrease stress and anxiety. It can help keep you physically healthy and, in turn, help those around you. Know the signs as well as when and where to seek help.
Local Resources
Lane County Public Health Suicide Prevention
- Lane County Public Health Suicide Prevention 541-682-8731
If you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, know how to help someone in crisis. Learn more about the facts, warning signs and lethal means of suicide.
White Bird Clinic
- White Bird Clinic, 541-342-8255
White Bird Clinic medical, mental health and behavioral health professionals strive to meet each person where they are and empower them to regain control of their own wellbeing. Their staff evaluates each person’s needs and recommends both in and out-of-house programs and resources to support them in their healing process. White Bird’s Community Resources page contains updated information on community resources during the COVID-19 crisis.
211
- 211info
Get connected with health and social service organizations by dialing 211 on your telephone. Look online to find resources available in your zip code.
Oregon's Senior Loneliness Line
- Oregon’s Senior Loneliness Line, 800-282-7035 or 503-200-1633
The Senior Loneliness Line is a statewide partnership between Lines for Life and Oregon Health Authority. The free statewide call service is for Oregonians 55 and older. Their team of volunteers and staff are specially trained in working with older adults, and can provide ongoing support, connect seniors with resources or just listen. Information is completely confidential and no one will follow up with a caller unless requested.
Safe + Strong Helpline
Safe + Strong Helpline is a behavioral health landing page that offers mental and emotional support information and resources as well as guidance for how to have conversations with loved ones who may be struggling. If you are in danger, thinking of harming yourself or someone else, or need help right away, you can call 911 or one of the support lines listed below. Someone will be there to listen and support you.
Visit safestrongoregon.org or call one of their helplines:
- Safe + Strong Helpline: 800-923-4357 (HELP).
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
- Alcohol and Drug Helpline: 1-800-923-4357
- Military Helpline: 1-888-457-4838
- Youthline (teen to teen support): 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863
- Trans Lifeline (Trans-led support): 877-565-8860
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ related support: 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
You Are Not Alone
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has created the You Are Not Alone website to provide resources for those at risk of harm due to isolation during COVID-19. Visit govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-not-alone. All resources offer translation services and are confidential.
For Children and Teens
- Child and Family Center at the University of Oregon: The Child and Family Center, a mental health clinic run out of the UO, is now offering free telehealth services for families with children ages 2-17. Services are available in both Spanish and English.
- White Bird’s HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools): In light of school closures due to COVID-19, HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) is offering mental health support by phone for students, families, and staff of high schools in the 4J, Springfield, Bethel, Oakridge and South Lane school districts. The phone line is staffed by crisis counselors who normally work in the HOOTS school clinics, or work on CAHOOTS.
- Students, families and staff of Churchill, North Eugene, Sheldon, South Eugene, ECCO, Network Charter, Wellsprings, Twin Rivers Charter, Willamette High School and Kalapuya should call: 541-246-2342.
- Students, families and staff of the Academy of Arts and Academics, Gateways, Springfield High School, Thurston High School and Oakridge High School should call: 541-246-2332.
- 15th Night will also continue to offer support and resources for unhoused youth and those working with them via phone and text at 541-246-4046.
For Veterans
- ODVA’s Veteran Navigator: A comprehensive hub site for resources for veterans, military service members, and their families
- Oregon Military Helpline: Free and confidential crisis intervention and sensitivity to military-specific issues
- VA Crisis Line: Connect with caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs
- MakeTheConnection.net: Connects veterans, their family members and friends, and other supporters with mental health information, local resources and veterans’ own stories of recovery
National Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255: The Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
- Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990: The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- American Psychological Association: See an extensive list of resources for the general public, educators, students, healthcare professionals, parents, caregivers and more.
- Center for Disease Control Stress and Coping Tools: People react differently to stressful situations. The CDC provides factual information about COVID-19 and tips on how to reduce stress for yourself and the people you care about. Resources are provided for families, people with the disease, and first responders.
- World Health Organization: The WHO is continuously monitoring and responding to this outbreak. This Q&A will be updated as more is known about COVID-19, how it spreads and how it is affecting people worldwide.
Womenspace
- Womenspace provides services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Access to these services is through their expanded 24-hour crisis and support line. Spanish and English-speaking advocates are available day and night. They are providing safety planning, emergency services, mobile advocacy, telecommunication options, counseling services, legal advocacy, financial assistance, referrals and access to other resources. Advocates, including their DHS co-located advocates, continue to accept referrals and calls from partner agencies.
Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence: See a list of community-based shelters and advocacy programs.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233: This hotline provides 24/7 access to support, safety planning, and resource referral for those who don’t feel safe in their relationships. If you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 2252.
National Sexual Assault Hotline
- National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-4673 (Chat function available on website): This hotline provides 24/7 access to support and resource referral for those who have experienced sexual violence and sexual harassment.
- Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe (American Psychological Association)
- That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief (Harvard Business Review)
- Tips for Handling Isolation (Space.com)
- Coronavirus Anxiety: Coping with Stress, Fear, and Uncertainty (HelpGuide.com)
- Coping with Coronavirus Stress (Psychology Today)
- Protect Your Family’s Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (U.S. News and World Report)
- A guide to parent self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic (Oxford Clinical Psychology)
- Coping With Anxiety and Depression During the Coronavirus Pandemic (U.S. News and World Report)
- How To Protect Your Mental Health During The Coronavirus Pandemic, According To Psychologists (Forbes)
Eugene Rec
Things are looking a little bit different around Eugene Rec.
We know this might sound like an understatement. But we want you to know that even though we may be limited in what we can offer, we are working hard to bring you the fun, health and connection that we all need now more than ever.
This fall we are happy to provide an outlet for all ages. And you can bet we’ve done everything to make your time at our facilities feel safe and secure. We have extensive cleaning and physical distancing protocols in place and we are offering more online programming than ever before.
Visit GetRec.org for details.
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Music for the McKenzie Series: A special group of outdoor and socially distanced concerts on October 8-10, presented by Hult Presents and with sponsorship from WildCraft Cider Works, with 20% of ticket proceeds being donated to United Way of Lane County’s Wildfire Relief Fund. Read more about the upcoming concerts.
EUGfun Activities
Cultural Services Community Programs has been hard at work creating opportunities for meaningful connection in this time of isolation and uncertainty. By utilizing online platforms, practicing physical distancing and providing important paid opportunities for our community’s talented artists, we offer you an opportunity to connect through free shared experiences that we hope will introduce the sparks of joy and inspiration we all need right now.
Learn more about current EUGfun activities including Outdoor Concerts at the Broadway Streateries, Bike It! 13th Ave. and Halloween Downtown.
Eugene Public Library
Choose from hundreds of thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, streaming movies and shows, music, magazines and more for all ages, free with your library card online. Learn about current library services, including how to place hold requests for physical items, and upcoming events including storytimes and book groups. For more information, visit the library website or call 541-682-5450.