Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers, which has an office in Seminole County, has announced the launch of a “COVID Impact Hotline.”

By calling (844) 384-5034, anyone with personal, emotional or physical needs will be connected to local resources to help meet those needs.

The hotline is available Monday — Friday from 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. and team members will talk with callers and provide them with the needed support.

Available resources include counseling services, public assistance, educational resources, substance abuse programs, employment services, food resources, housing resources and more.

In a poll conducted in mid-July, 53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.

Many adults are also reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and wellbeing, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors.

The changes that can happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways we try to contain the spread of the virus can affect anyone.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:

People who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (for example, older people, and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions).

Children and teens.

People caring for family members or loved ones.

Frontline workers such as health care providers and first responders,

Essential workers who work in the food industry.

People who have existing mental health conditions.

People who use substances or have a substance use disorder.

People who have lost their jobs, had their work hours reduced, or had other major changes to their employment.

People who have disabilities or developmental delay.

People who are socially isolated from others, including people who live alone, and people in rural or frontier areas.

People in some racial and ethnic minority groups.

People who do not have access to information in their primary language.

People experiencing homelessness.

People who live in congregate (group) settings.

Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as by providing social support, can also make your community stronger.

During times of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated.