Hotlines and Community Resources

Hotlines

  • 800-283-9222  Abuse/Neglect Reporting for Children/Dependent Adults (Iowa)
  • 800-628-9240  AIDS/HIV Hotline (National)
  • 515-282-8550  Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline (Iowa)
  • 800-942-0333  Domestic Violence Intervention Hotline (Iowa)
  • 888-843-4564  GLBT Community Hotline (National)
  • 515-244-2277  Narcotics Anonymous Hotline (Iowa)
  • 800-284-7821  Sexual Abuse Hotline (Iowa)
  • 800-273-8255  Suicide Prevention Hotline (National)

Des Moines Hospitals

  • 515-241-5437  Blank Children’s Hospital
  • 515-282-2200  Broadlawns Medical Center
  • 515-263-5612  Iowa Lutheran Hospital
  • 515-241-6212  Iowa Methodist Medical Center
  • 515-247-3121  Mercy Hospital Medical Center
  • 515-699-5999  Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Hospital

Des Moines Community Services

  • 515-243-6147  Children and Families of Iowa (Safe Shelter, Counseling, Advocacy for Family Violence Survivors)
  • 515-286-3798  Health Department of Polk County (STD Treatment)
  • 515-243-1193  Legal Aid Society of Polk County
  • 515-256-3600  Victim Services of Polk County

Recovery Resources

Des Moines doctors in recovery who have volunteered to assist DMU students struggling with substance use:

  • 515-262-4905  Dr. Dick Evans
  • 515-255-8580  Dr. Stan Haughland

Need a Break?

Whether you’re new to Des Moines, or just looking for some fresh ideas for things to do to relax and unwind, we’ve compiled a great list of local options for just about any hobby, activity, or event you might have interest in. So, take a little time for yourself and discover all that the city has to offer!

Community Activities and Resources.pdf

There’s an App for That

With all of the apps that are available out there, it can be difficult to know which ones might be helpful. So, the SCC has done some of the work for you! Below are a variety of apps that are our top picks for stress relief. Most are free and all are well-reviewed, so if you’re looking for something new to add to your stress management routine, give them a try!

Relaxation

  1. BellyBio Interactive Breathing
    Platform: iOS
    Price: Free
    Description: BellyBio is based on a biofeedback model, using lights and music that synchronize with your breathing. This then encourages abdominal breathing to reduce stress and increase relaxation.
  2. Breathe2Relax
    Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Provides information about the stress response and its effect on the body, teaching users diaphragmatic breathing to help reduce tension and stress.
  3. Deep Relax
    Platform: iOS
    Price: Free, additional sound add-ons for $3.99
    Description: Deep Relax allows users to mix sounds to create their own relaxing melodies that can be a good accompaniment to meditation. The app also has clock, timer, and alarm features.
  4. Relax Melodies: Sleep and Yoga
    Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Features a variety of white noise, ambient sounds, and melodies that can be mixed together to assist with meditation, sleep, and relaxation.

Stress Relief

  1. Happify
    Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: Free
    Description:  Happify allows users to establish personal goals and then suggests activities consistent with these goals, including strategies to help cope with stress, challenge negative thoughts, and build self-confidence.
  2. Optimism
    Platform: iOS
    Price: Free
    Description: Optimism provides a format for tracking moods and emotional “triggers” to assist users in understanding related patterns. This information can then be used to develop strategies for responding to stressors and maintaining positive mood.
  3. Positive Activity Jackpot
    Platform: Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Uses the concept of pleasant event scheduling to assist users in finding nearby options for fun activities and allows users to invite friends. The app can also generate suggestions for activities in the user’s area.
  4. Take a Break! Guided Meditations for Stress Relief
    Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Provides two meditation recordings, “Work Break” or “Stress Relief” that can be listened to with or without accompanying music and nature sounds.

Improving Sleep

  1. Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson
  2. Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: $2.99
    Description: Deep Sleep uses guided meditation to help clear a user’s mind and achieve deep, restful sleep.
  3. Pzizz
    Platform: iOS, Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Pzizz uses voice, sound effects, and music to create unique soundtracks to help users fall asleep. A different soundtrack is created each time a user plays it (over 100 billion combinations possible).
  4. SleepBot Sleep Cycle Alarm
    Platform: Android
    Price: Free
    Description: Records movements and sound while sleeping to provide a comprehensive sleep analysis. Allows users to review their sleep statistics, provides resources to help fall asleep, and utilizes an alarm that awakens users during their lightest sleep cycle.
  5. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock
    Platform: iOS
    Price: $1.99
    Description: Monitors movement during sleep and provides users with their sleep statistics. The alarm feature awakens users during their lightest sleep phase to make waking easier.
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