I have Long COVID-related mental health symptoms. Where can I find help and support?

Long COVID is a range of new or ongoing health problems that some people experience after having COVID-19. These health problems can affect you for weeks, months, or years following a COVID-19 infection. Anybody who has had COVID-19 can experience Long COVID symptoms.

Long COVID has been linked with several mental health conditions and symptoms including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms can have a significant impact on your ability to function at home, at work, and in relationships. Fortunately, there is information, support, and treatment available to those experiencing Long COVID-related mental health symptoms. If you think you may have a mental health condition or mental health symptoms as a result of having Long COVID, tell your doctor or mental health professional as soon as possible so they can help you get the care you need. 

Long COVID can also include physical symptoms that sometimes look like mental health symptoms. These include fatigue, chest pain, digestive issues, and neurological symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and difficulty thinking and concentrating (also known as “brain fog”). If you have Long COVID you should keep seeing your doctors and other specialists to help you get better.

Mental Health Treatment for Long COVID

Therapeutic interventions such as trauma therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness therapy can help individuals understand, reduce, and learn to manage psychological and emotional symptoms associated with Long COVID. You may wish to consult NAMI’s I need to see a Psychiatrist/Therapist. How can I find one? Knowledge Article for guidance on finding a mental health treatment provider.

Trauma Therapy

Some people with COVID-19 experience symptoms of PTSD because of their experience with the illness and its impact on daily life and functioning. There are several well-studied treatment approaches to address the symptoms of PTSD. You can visit NAMI’s Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment page to read about common trauma treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Exposure Therapy for treating PTSD.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a psychotherapy treatment approach used to address many mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression, by targeting the connection between individuals' thoughts, feelings, and actions. You can read more about CBT and other Psychotherapy treatment approaches on NAMI’s Psychotherapy Treatment Page.

CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) has been proven effective for treating insomnia and may be beneficial for Long COVID patients who have difficulty sleeping. You can read more about Long-COVID-related insomnia and treatment approaches, including CBT-I, on this University of Michigan Medicine fact sheet.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness techniques can help people come to terms with life changes that have resulted from Long COVID. Such techniques can help people manage emotional symptoms like sadness, motivation, and worry, and can also help them better manage physical symptoms like breathlessness and increased heart rate. 

Mindfulness-based interventions are a part of several different psychotherapy treatment approaches including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectal behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). You may wish to speak with your treatment provider about using mindfulness techniques as part of your mental health recovery. 

Support Groups

The Body Politic online support group provides individuals who have been affected by COVID-19 with emotional support, resources, community, and opportunities for advocacy.
The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) promotes well-being and decreases isolation for those impacted by chronic illness through support and education. Their online support groups are professionally facilitated and offer psycho educational tools for coping.
Blooming Magnolia’s mission is to empower others by providing a platform to strengthen and protect mental health and support those afflicted with Long-COVID through education and funding of therapeutic research. Their resources page includes a list of mental health resources and support groups.

Many state, county, and local organizations offer support groups for people experiencing long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Search online for Long COVID support groups in your area to learn more.

For More Information

There are many organizations that offer information about Long COVID symptoms, treatment, and ongoing research. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) website features information about Long COVID, including Long COVID-related mental health symptoms, diagnoses, statistics, and strategies for increasing support.
Covid.gov is an official website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that offers fact sheets, toolkits, and information about supports, services, and research for individuals and families experiencing Long COVID.
The Long COVID Alliance is a network of patient-advocates, scientists, disease experts, and drug developers who have joined together to educate policy makers and improve research. Their website offers resources for locating support groups, mental health support for individuals and families affected by Long COVID, and diagnostic and treatment resources. It also details information about studies, clinical trials, and research opportunities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has classified Long COVID as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This web page explains under what circumstances Long COVID can be classified as a disability and offers resources for those who may have experienced discrimination because of their Long COVID-related disability.
You can visit NAMI’s Succeeding at Work web page to learn more about requesting workplace accommodations for a Long COVID-related disability.

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