MANAGING EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING AS THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
Anne-Marie Welsh
09/14/2020
treatment specialist Contributed photo
ERIE — The Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Erie is offering resources and a live Zoom webinar for parents and guardians of students in the Diocese of Erie. The event, made possible through the assistance of Gannon University, is open to all parents — whether their children are enrolled in a Catholic school or not — who are interested in learning more about how to help themselves and their children handle the mental and emotional challenges of the pandemic.
and Adoption Services, Diocese of Erie
Contributed photo
The webinar will feature Barb Ertl, LPC, NCC, certified trauma treatment specialist and fellow of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Barb will be joined by Joe Haas, executive director of Catholic Charities’ Counseling and Adoption Services for the Diocese of Erie, who will share resources offered through our local Catholic Charities office.
As children return to school this year, they will be adjusting to changes to their daily routines and may find that some of the activities and experiences they were looking forward to have been modified or even cancelled this year. As a result, your children may exhibit some common signs and symptoms of general anxiety and grief that are associated with living through a pandemic. These common signs and symptoms can show up in a variety of cognitive, physical, behavioral, emotional, and spiritual ways.
Therefore, the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Erie is hosting a one-hour live webinar: “Navigating COVID-19 from a Mental Wellness Perspective,” Monday, September 21
at both 12:15 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to select the time time that best suits their schedule.
To register for the event, visit www.eriercd.org/parentzoom.htm. Credentials to enter the Zoom webinar will be emailed to registered participants on September 21.
Officials from the Catholic Schools Office also have provided the following links to resources parents, including some tailored to teens and others to elementary school students.
schools, Diocese of Erie Contributed photo
Resources for parents:
Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) Prevention
Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
SLIconnect – Managing Coronavirus Anxiety – Saint Luke Institute
Social Emotional Wellness Resources for Families - PDE – Pa.Gov
Family Mental Health Toolkits for COVID-19 – Dickinson Center, Inc.
Catholic Charities: Counseling and Adoption Services – Websites and Resources for COVID-19
Parent/ Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Parents – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Tips for Parents and Caregivers on Media Coverage of Traumatic Events
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Caring for Children in a Disaster – CDC
National Association of School Psychologists – Website
American Academy of Pediatrics – Website
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Website
Self-care During COVID-19 – TrailstoWellness.org
American School Counselor Association – Website
Pennsylvania School Counseling Association – Website
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event – The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Helping Children with Traumatic Separation or Traumatic Grief Related to COVID-19
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Resources for school-age children:
Mental Health & Wellness for Catholic Schools: Emotions, Resiliency, Belonging, & Dignity of the Whole Person: Lesson for Kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 4 6, and 8
Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Corporation
Coping After A Disaster: – Coloring and activity book for children age 3-10
Coping Worksheets: – Ages 3-10
PBS Kids – Website
Fighting the Big Virus: Trinka and Sam’s Questions – CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus: Trinka, Sam, and Littletown Work Together – CDC
Resources for teens:
Coping in Hard Times: Fact Sheet for Youth High School and College Age
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Let’s Talk About It – National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry includes videos and other materials that might be useful for teens and/or parents
Life Teen – Good resources for teens and parents who love them
Support for Teens and Young Adults – CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
-