Staff
This article is part of the guide Sustaining Higher Education in the Coronavirus Crisis.
Dear educators,
There was life before COVID-19, and there will be life after.
We didn’t choose to have our schools and colleges closed; our carefully constructed routines halted in their tracks; our field trips, concerts, sporting events, fundraisers and finals all canceled. We didn’t expect this and had little warning.
We weren’t ready for this either. Or were we?
At this very moment, there are so many questions swirling through our own heads and the education ecosystem across the globe. What impact will this have on student learning, on families, on the economy—now and in the long-term? How will we support students who rely on school for meals or the stability that their classroom provides? How will our students without access to computers or technology continue to learn? What will this do to our school and campus communities? How will this impact our school’s funding, our careers?
And then there’s the uncertainty around when teachers and students will be allowed to return to school—and what school will be like when we do.
As psychologists, we at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence are concerned about everyone’s emotional state. How will students and educators cope with life being turned upside down so quickly? ( Read full text at edsurge.com or click on the title link)
Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health
Read entire handout here --->. https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4894.pdf.
Below is just an excerpt:
What To Expect: Typical Reactions Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an infectious disease outbreak that requires social distancing, quarantine, or isolation. People may feel:
Anxiety, worry, or fear related to:
Your own health status
The health status of others whom you may have exposed to the disease
The resentment that your friends and family may feel if they need to go into quarantine as a result of contact with you
The experience of monitoring yourself, or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of the disease
Time taken off from work and the potential loss of income and job security
The challenges of securing things you need, such as groceries and personal care items
Concern about being able to effectively care for children or others in your care
Uncertainty or frustration about how long you will need to remain in this situation, and uncertainty about the future
Loneliness associated with feeling cut off from the world and from loved ones
Anger if you think you were exposed to the disease because of others’ negligence
Boredom and frustration because you may not be able to work or engage in regular day-to-day activities
Uncertainty or ambivalence about the situation
A desire to use alcohol or drugs to cope
Symptoms of depression, such as feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite, or sleeping too little or too much
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as intrusive distressing memories, flashbacks (reliving the event), nightmares, changes in thoughts and mood, and being easily startled
If you or a loved one experience any of these reactions for 2 to 4 weeks or more, contact your health care provider or one of the resources at the end of this tip sheet. https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4894.pdf
Resources (updated regularly)
Educator Resources
Remote Learning Tool Kit to help with the transition to learning remotely. Great ideas for engaging students with limited/no tech.
Adult Self Care
Compassion Fatigue/ Vicarious Trauma
The Heart of Learning and Teaching: Compassion, Resiliency, and Academic Success. Comprehensive resource created by public schools and a state office of public instruction to promote the “compassionate teaching approach” to help students learn despite trauma experienced. http://www.k12.wa.us/CompassionateSchools/pubdocs/TheHeartofLearningandTeaching.pdf
Listen, Protect, Connect — Model and Teach: Psychological First Aid (PFA) for Students and Teachers.Handbook for teachers on the Listen, Protect, Connect — Model and Teach process for helping students who have experienced a crisis, from Ready (https://www.ready.gov), a campaign from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/PFA_SchoolCrisis.pdf
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Suggestions for Educators: How to Help a Traumatized Child. Tip sheet for educators on how to help a child at school who has experienced trauma. http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/traumatic-grief/educators Recovering Emotionally From Disaster. Information on common reactions and responses to disaster, with coping mechanisms and a link to a psychologist locator provided by the American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx
Massachusetts 211: Need Help & Don't Know Where To Turn?
Every day, someone somewhere in Massachusetts needs to find essential community services, an after school program, a food bank, or where to secure care for an aging parent. Many face these challenges, but don't always know where to turn for help. The Solution is to Dial 2-1-1.
Mass 211 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, and other local resources. Always a confidential call, Mass 211 maintains the integrity of the 9-1-1 system saving that vital community resource for life and death emergencies.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Mass 211 is an easy way to find or give help in your community.
Mass 211 responds immediately during times of crisis, to field calls regarding the crisis and to direct callers to services most appropriate for their needs. If you are unable to reach 2-1-1 due to your telephone or cell phone carrier, a toll-free number is available 1-877-211-MASS (6277); Hearing impaired callers can reach us using 508-370-4890 TTY