CHAMPAIGN – With the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus continuing to rise in Illinois, Governor Pritzker issued an extension of the Stay at Home Order until the end of April. State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is sharing resources with community members on how to manage their mental health while at home.

“Mental health is vital during this challenging time,” Bennett said. “As we face uncertainty about the coronavirus, there are measures we can take to stay calm.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Champaign has a hotline at 217-​419-5345 and a textline for support. Text NAMI to 741741 for anyone who may experience a mental health crisis.

Senator Bennett encourages residents to take simple steps to care for themselves, such as:​

• Connect with friends and family online,
• Keep regular work hours while at home,
• Prepare healthy meals,
• Exercise regularly, and
• Stay up to date with accurate information.

“There are still ways to keep up with family and friends while respecting social distance,” Bennett said. “It’s important to maintain your relationships right now so that we can overcome this together.”

While Senator Bennett’s office is closed during the Stay at Home Order, staff can be reached at 217-355-5252 to assist with any state services. More resources for COVID-19 can be found at coronavirus.illinois.gov.