Transitioning to online instruction impacts more than just academics. It can affect the mental health and well-being of students.
Here are some resources to help our Pitt-Bradford community during this unprecedented time.
Active Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness among college students, published a list of how students can cope with being suddenly disengaged from our communities.
Maintain routines
No matter where you are, try to replicate your schedule throughout the day.
Practice healthy habits and self-care that benefits you
Get a healthy amount of sleep each night, eat well, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol.
Avoid large crowds, but don’t disengage
Take advantage of social media, email, texting and video calls while also visiting relatives nearby regularly. Google Chrome is also offering an extension that allows you to watch movies and television shows with multiple people.
Seek news only from reliable sources and in increments
It’s easy to over-consume news, and misinformation can create increased anxiety. It’s important to be informed, but we also need to disconnect at times.
Take a break
Find unique games to distract your mind. Take an online yoga class or even try a meditation app.
At Pitt-Bradford, we checked with our students to see how they’re navigating this process through an Instagram Q&A. Here are some of their top responses:
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Spending extra time with their pets
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Learning new skills
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Yoga and meditation
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Using texting to keep in contact with friends
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Keeping Active
Pitt-Bradford’s Counseling Services
Our counseling services’ first priority is the health and well-being of our students. To keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Counseling Services is offering services to students by phone and email only. More information about what we’re doing and contact information can be found here.
“We recognize that this is not an easy time to manage the challenges of change and uncertainty,” said Leslie L. Rhinehart, director of counseling services. “I would encourage people to utilize the information from the recommended links and then have them share what is helpful with others. This may create a network of ideas and connectedness with one another, even if the connections are at the appropriate social distance or via telephone and technology.”
Counseling Services highly encourages students to use a self-help resource. Students have access to Therapy Assistance Online or TAO. They need to register/create an account with their Pitt email address, and they will have access to online self-help modules for reducing anxiety, improving mood, and getting along with others, as well as a library of mindfulness resources and guided meditations.
Athletes
Athletes are coping with the sudden loss of their season. The NCAA Sport Science Institute will be developing webinars and outreach recommendations with the NCAA membership. While those resources are being developed, the NCAA recommends athletes refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s resource webpage on dealing with anxiety during an outbreak. Cypher Psych also has a list of ways athletes can maintain their mental health, including controlling the controllables and finding and seizing opportunities.
For students with families
This is new territory for all of us, and it can be challenging to explain to younger members of our families. NPR released a comic strip and radio story to help children understand the coronavirus, while the National Association of School Psychologists released a guide for parents on how to speak to their children about the virus. For parents with teens and tweens, The New York Times published an article speaking with experts on how parents can help their older children understand the facts and be prepared.
Crisis Resources
If you feel entirely overwhelmed, alone and at risk of self-harm, remember you are never truly alone: Crisis Text Line: text HELLO to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255