Quote: “Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith.” Elizabeth Elliot
Webinar June 23rd: Post-Pandemic Life: Helping Children Cope with Re-Entry Anxiety
Join Dr. Rowe as she leads this 1-hour webinar designed to support parents in managing their own stress around re-opening and help their child(ren) adjust to post-pandemic life. She will discuss some the reasons why we may be experiencing re-entry anxiety and what this can look like in the context of our family life. Dr. Rowe will also share concepts and strategies for easing your child’s re-entry anxiety and boosting family resilience, which will include:
- Acknowledging anxiety and stress while focusing energy on aspects of life that we can control.
- Refraining from avoidant behaviors by engaging in small, yet active steps toward re-entry.
- Utilizing healthy coping strategies that create structure and promote self-care.
- Maintaining positive changes from lockdown and developing a re-entry plan that supports family goals and values.
- Providing motivation that encourages social engagement and empowers children to practice socializing.
Quote: More than a third of high school students in the United States experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009. In 2019, about 16 percent of youth reported making a suicide plan, a 44 percent increase since 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Article: Taking a Mental Health Day is Legit. Just Ask the Kids – Washington Post
“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein
Article: Pandemic has fueled eating disorder surge in teens, adults (AP)
“Mental health days help to create a balanced work culture and cultivate healthy and happy employees.” Kelli M. Waters, LCSW, CAADC, and director of care for Listeners On Call in How to Ask Your Boss for a Mental Health Day by Kelsey Mulvey
Quote: “Be honest, be nice, be a flower not a weed.” – Aaron Neville
Quote: “Death is always out of our control, but what is within our power is taking steps to ensure the legacy of those we miss most lives on in perpetuity.” Allison Gilbert, author, in first article below.
Articles:
‘Pandemic grief’ proves especially devastating and complex for many in mourning, health experts sayBereavement after a coronavirus death may be traumatically distorted by our enforced absence — not “being there” to offer an embrace to a dying loved one. By Cathy Alter
After a year of covid life, we’ve run out of things to talk about. Try these conversation tips. Try being observant, asking questions, not complaining and, yes, even preparing topics. By Galadriel Watson
Quote: “The first step is to stop, take a deep breath, and realize that the world doesn’t rest completely on your shoulders.” – Elizabeth Grace Saunders
Article: Make Time for Meby Elizabeth Grace Saunders in the Harvard Business Review
- Quote: “You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.” – Marian Wright Edelman.
- Article: Why we’re so tired after socializing now After a year of social distancing, socializing is more exhausting than it used to be. Here’s why. By NICOLE KARLIS in Salon.
- Free Grief 101 video: Understanding Loss
- Webinar: New Approaches to Helping Your Anxious Child Four Part Zoom and also free video course starts May 6th. Sign up here.
Quote: “Death is always out of our control, but what is within our power is taking steps to ensure the legacy of those we miss most lives on in perpetuity.” Allison Gilbert, author, in first article below.
Articles:
‘Pandemic grief’ proves especially devastating and complex for many in mourning, health experts say Bereavement after a coronavirus death may be traumatically distorted by our enforced absence — not “being there” to offer an embrace to a dying loved one. By Cathy Alter
After a year of covid life, we’ve run out of things to talk about. Try these conversation tips. Try being observant, asking questions, not complaining and, yes, even preparing topics. By Galadriel Watson
Quote: “Grief is cyclical, especially around anniversary dates” – Hope Edelman in The Washington Post.
Two excellent webinars:
March 11th Talk on Having Meaningful Conversations About Difficult Topics: Today’s parents are tasked with topics many have never discussed themselves making it all the more difficult to talk with their teens. In this workshop we will focus on strategies to use when talking about COVID, sexuality, race relations, politics and more! Featuring educator and clinical social worker, Jen Cort. Presented by the Sycamore School on March 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. $10
March 17th Free Workshop: Coping with our stress and emotional needs during the pandemic. In this session, you will be introduced to skills which are useful when dealing with anxiety, loss, and grief. Come and learn techniques to support yourself and to be better able to support others during COVID-19. Presented by Arlington County. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coping-with-stress-and-emotional-needs-during-pandemic-tickets-142252977485
Mental Health Spot:
“Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” – Mary Chapin Carpenter
Fact: Despite overall improvements on most mental health indicators from December 2020 to January 2021, the Mental Health Index showed that, in January, 2021,
- Risk of depression is 71% higher than before Covid-19.
- Risk of PTSD is 33% higher than before Covid-19.
- Sustained attention is 27% worse than before Covid-19
– source: TotalBrain.Com
If you need help: Trinity Mental Health Wellness Team’s (updated for COVID) Mental Health Resources page
January 2021
Mental Health Workshop on Family Communication
The mental health wellness team would like to share this timely article on How to Prevent Politics from Destroying Your Family.
Mental Health Spot: Coping Strategies
“Coping Now and Later: Building Resilience that will Last a Lifetime”
Thursday, January 28th at 9am
Melinda Wenner Moyer, host Yes, we are in a pandemic. But this NY Times contributor tells us we can turn the skills we are developing into resilience for life.
1. Evidenced-based strategies for coping
2. How to support yourself and your family in ways that build resilience
3. The best way to manage feelings and behaviors (for yourself and your children) throughout it all. Melinda will share the research and strategies from her numerous articles, parenting newsletter, and upcoming book. Register here.
Mental Health Reset:
Click here for the article.
December 2020
“When someone judges too harshly, they give themselves little room to enjoy life.” Marline Francois-Madden, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Article: How Life Changes When You Become Less Judgmental: https://madamenoire.com/…/how-life-changes-when-you…/
The Safe Community Coalition of McLean, a mental health wellness organization, has created a series of videos for parents and teens called “Managing the Moments.” Their most recent videos are Your Daily Prescription to Cope with Covid-19 and Coping Through the Holidays.
http://mcleanscc.org/portfolio-items/mtm-2/
November 2020
Our Mental Health Wellness team also recommends this article: “Seven Things Therapists are Telling Clients Feeling Terrified about the Election.” https://www.self.com/story/election-fear-tips