Student Resources

Coping with Stress

Here are some healthy ways to cope with stress:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about current events repeatedly can be upsetting.

• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate, try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol and drug use.

• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about how you are feeling.

• Know the facts to help reduce stress - Knowing the facts and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress.

• Take care of your mental health- Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.

• Look out for common signs of distress: Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration. Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels. Difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Difficulty sleeping or nightmares. Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes. Worsening of chronic health problems. Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

• Seek help when needed– If stress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks, talk to your family, a clergy member, counselor, health care professional, or utilize local and/or national resources.

🛑 When to Seek Help

• You feel down, anxious, or overwhelmed most days for 2+ weeks.

• You’re having trouble eating, sleeping, or concentrating because of how you feel.

• You’re thinking about hurting yourself or wishing you weren’t here.

📌 You deserve support—talk to a school counselor, trusted adult, or mental health professional. You're not alone.

📞 Youth-Friendly Hotlines & Text Lines

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (24/7, free, confidential)

• Crisis Text Line — Text HELLO to 741741

• NJ PerformCare — Call 1-877-652-7624 (for youth mental health services in New Jersey)

• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth) — Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678

• 1-800-RUNAWAY — Call 1-800-786-2929 or chat online (for teens in crisis or needing a safe space)