BYU-Idaho Radio · COVID-19 Support Group Series from DHW
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has teamed up with Empower Idaho to help Idahoans alleviate stress that has built up during a year-long pandemic.
The COVID-19 support group meets virtually every other Tuesday, with meetings focused on helping attendees readjust to a normal post-pandemic lifestyle.
Lillian Toumey, a COVID-19 crisis community resource specialist for DHW, said this series of meetings has helped people reconnect with their community and to destress.
“One of our main goals is to have a place for people to come together and talk about how the pandemic has impacted them. We just wanted to let people have a chance to share ideas for rebuilding the community, and to build a sense of togetherness,” she said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio.
Prior to the start of the first meeting, DHW and Empower Idaho held a poll and asked people what they felt were the biggest problems that have arisen since the start of the pandemic.
“Anxiety was the feeling that came up the most often, and then rebuilding communities was the biggest topic,” said Toumey.
Empower Idaho wants these support group meetings to last until the end of June, but Toumey said they could go on for much longer than that. The next meeting will focus on meditation and mindfulness.
If you want to learn how you can join the COVID-19 support groups, visit Empower Idaho’s Facebook page.