As the holidays approach, Texans are highly concerned about mental health issues as a result of COVID-19, but one college organization is working to do something about it. The College Health Alliance of Texas (CHAT) is launching a partnership with Grant Halliburton Foundation and the Okay to Say™ mental health public awareness campaign to bring resources to college students who may face mental health struggles over the holidays.
For Grant Halliburton Foundation, 2020 will be remembered as a year of resilience, something we teach to children and teens nearly every day. Resilience is all about continuing to move forward in the face of life’s hurdles. This year has been the ultimate test of resilience, and we’ve done our best to meet the challenges head-on.
It’s no mystery work plays a primary role in our lives. According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, Americans work 137 hours more than Japanese workers, 260 more hours than British workers, and 499 more hours than French Workers. “What do you do?” has become the gold-standard of introductory questions when meeting someone new. We often conflate work with worth and perceive occupation as a primary determinant of social status. For example, when someone says they’re a doctor, our ears perk up!
When I was assigned this blog post, I was filled with uncertainty about an appropriate topic to write about. The state of the coronavirus seems to change by the hour, and who knows what the coming months will bring. One of my ideas was to write about emerging heroes across our community. Then I realized that heroes are all around us, doing their part, large and small, to help us through this hard time. Choosing which heroes to write about would be difficult.
This morning, I awoke to my 21-month-old slapping a used Band-Aid gently on my face. Ah, a new day. What does coping look like as a parent of small children right now? For me, it looks like lowering my expectations (especially of myself), tuning in to what each member of my family needs, and claiming time for myself.
As Director of the Mental Health Navigation Line, I’ve seen a notable increase in anxiety-related symptoms due to stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people I speak with describe physical changes they’re experiencing and often ask if they should call their medical doctor in case they’re sick with the flu or possibly COVID-19.
Mornings can be tough, especially in the midst of a pandemic that has shifted our schedules and impacted our motivation, mood, and mindset going into each day. It’s easy to feel anxious, out of control, or defeated as the situation changes daily. We want to foster habits that help us navigate this difficult time well.
Working from home does not mean less stress. Instead, I have found new stressors. Without my colleagues to help feed my motivation and creativity, I get stuck in my own head. The rhythm of the day is blurred. The four steps from my bed to the desk doesn’t provide me the time for thought and reflection my long work commute did. The distractions of home, family, TV, house chores, the call of the yard, all cause me to lose focus.
With the country rolling out social distancing measures due the coronavirus (COVID-19), North Texans are facing a new reality that may prove to be stressful for some people. Fear and anxiety about the pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in children, teens, and adults.
Director of outreach and education Cami Fields, LMSW, offers tips and resources for children, adolescents and adults coping with this challenging time during the shelter-in-place orders.
