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For Providers and Community Leaders: Helping People Manage 

Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak 

When the public learns of an outbreak of an infectious disease such as COVID-19, they may experience anxiety 

and show signs of stress, even if the objective risk of getting sick is very low. Concerns about transmission 

from person to person may affect accessibility of social supports and reduce community cohesion. Although 

public health authorities are working to contain the spread of the virus, disease outbreaks are unpredictable. 

If more cases occur, members of the public may well become increasingly concerned and some may begin to 

panic. 

This stress is normal and may be more pronounced in people with loved ones in parts of the world hardest hit 

by the outbreak. Healthcare providers, community and religious leaders, and government officials all have a 

role to play in helping people cope effectively and manage their stress in the current climate of concerns 

about COVID-19 transmission. They can: 

• provide the public with accurate and calming information about COVID-19 risk 

• help the public recognize signs of stress in themselves and their loved ones 

• teach them how to relieve anxiety reactions, and 

• provide them with resources so they can seek further help if necessary 

Important Key Principles 

There are five key principles for healthcare providers, community leaders, and others concerned with the 

psychological welfare of the public to follow when providing help in situations like the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Keep in mind that there is room for significant local variation and innovation in ways of embodying these 

principles in care efforts. The principles are: 

Promote a Sense of Safety. Infectious disease outbreaks can challenge individuals’ psychological sense of 

safety, leaving them worried about infection and, potentially, death. All interventions that help restore a 

sense of relative safety can help minimize psychological consequences. In the case of COVID-19, fears can be 

reduced through education about the means of virus transmission, what individuals can do to protect 

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National Center for PTSD For Providers and Community Leaders: Helping People Manage Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak 

themselves and their loved ones, and accurate information about the likelihood of severe illness and risk of 

death related to the illness. 

Promote a Sense of Self- and Community-Efficacy. Infectious diseases like COVID-19 can engender feelings of 

helplessness about preventing infection, managing the course of illness, and protecting one’s family. Feelings 

of helplessness and anger may also arise if people have concerns about the government’s perceived 

transparency and capacity to manage public health (i.e., control the spread of disease). Therefore, it is 

important that individuals, families, and organizations be empowered to take control of the situation to the 

extent possible. 

Encouraging active coping that aligns with public health guidance and messaging is also important. For 

example, encouraging people to read COVID-19-related information from trusted sources like the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website is likely to increase a sense of confidence in their ability to take 

action. Information about using technology to safely support and share information and resources helps 

promote community efficacy and a sense of control in responding to the situation. 

Promote a Sense of Connectedness. Social support is a crucial resource in dealing with all stressors. In an 

outbreak---where people are urged to stay away from the sick, avoid large gatherings, and may even face 

quarantine of themselves or their loved ones---it can be challenging to maintain. Healthcare providers can 

help facilitate connectedness through the use of technology, including telephone support groups, text 

messaging and email mutual support forums, facilitated web-based chat rooms and video calling. These 

methods can be especially important for people separated because of quarantine. Healthcare providers can 

also help people work through the anger and guilt that they may feel about staying away from loved ones in 

cases of quarantine. 

Promote a Sense of Calming. Both through personal contacts and public messages, healthcare providers and 

community leaders can help make a stressful time feel less turbulent. Healthcare providers can promote 

relaxation strategies via apps, brief advice, and training programs. They can also help correct inaccurate 

negative beliefs about the virus. For their part, public officials should work to reassure the public and stop the 

spread of rumors. 

Promote a Sense of Hope. Public communication efforts can focus on what is being done to address the 

outbreak, resources that are available to help those affected by the COVID-19 virus, hopeful messages related 

to positive aspects of the large-scale response and the time-limited nature of the outbreak, and inspirational 

stories of healing and transcending challenging circumstances. 

Fostering Adaptive Functioning in the Public 

With these key principles in mind, leaders can take concrete steps to maximize public trust, foster social 

connections, support community and individual wellbeing, and promote adaptive behavior change. 

Healthcare providers should:

• Clearly and authoritatively convey risk and resilience messages. 

• Use a flexible style of communication that is tailored to the stress level and threat level of each 

person. 

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National Center for PTSD For Providers and Community Leaders: Helping People Manage Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak 

• Be culturally competent and thoughtful of people’s views, priorities, and preferences. 

• Address deficits in knowledge, trust, materials, and resources as they emerge. 

• Contact the PTSD Consultation Program with questions about managing stress related to COVID-19 

via email at PTSDconsult@va.gov or phone: 866-948-7880. 

Community leaders should:

• Develop and provide materials that include evidence-informed coping tips and self-care facts. 

• Direct people to resources---websites, social media, news outlets---that provide authoritative 

information. 

• Engender in the public a sense of safety and control. 

• Increase the likelihood that communities and individuals will be able to create their own maps for 

navigating through the situation by empowering self-efficacy. 

• Disseminate information that promotes social connectedness, calming---rather than fear---and 

feelings of safety and hope. 

• Provide guidance about building resilience, including tips for increasing social support, maintaining 

optimism, setting goals, achieving emotional and social balance, and employing multiple types of 

problem-solving and coping. 

• Incorporate hospice and faith communities in community response plans. 

• Identify individuals at risk and facilitate access to appropriate mental health services. 

References 

Brymer, M., Jacobs, A., Layne, C., Pynoos, R., Ruzek, J., Steinberg, A., ... & Watson, P. (2006). Psychological first 

aid: Field operations guide. National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD. 

Gonzales, G. (2003). Deep survival. Who lives, who dies, and why. True stories of miraculous endurance and 

sudden death. W.W. Norton & Company. New York. 

Hobfoll, S. E., Watson, P. J., Bell, C. C., Bryant, R. A., Brymer, M. J., Friedman, M. J., et al. (2007). Five essential 

elements of immediate and mid-term mass trauma intervention: Empirical evidence. Psychiatry, 

70(4), 283-315. 

Reissman, D. B., Watson, P. J., Klomp, R. W., Tanielian, T. L., & Prior, S. D. (2006). Pandemic influenza 

preparedness: adaptive responses to an evolving challenge. Journal of Homeland Security and 

Emergency Management, 3(2). 

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