NY Project Hope at Long Island Family Health Center (LIFQHC) is a local crisis counseling provider that helps residents in our community navigate the changes caused by COVID-19 through outreach, education and emotional support. 

NY Project Hope offers an Emotional Support Helpline staffed by trained crisis counselors who help callers talk through their emotions and find resources to help them cope with the challenges of COVID. NY Project Hope also has digital educational materials, a supportive social media presence, and a website filled with resources along with a helpline that the community can access.

Project Hope Helpline: (516) 992-HOPE (4673)

Website: https://nyprojecthope.org/

• NYPH Flyer (English)
• NYPH Flyer (Spanish)
• NYPH Flyer (Creole)
• NYPH Flyer (French)

Services are always confidential, free, and anonymous.

With much of school, work, and play occurring at home during the pandemic, families are spending much more time together than they normally would—posing new challenges for teen-parent relationships, already some of the most strained. Psychologists with expertise on parenting, as well as those studying family communication around race, sex, mental health, and media use, offer insights on how to improve dynamics between adolescents and their caregivers.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/communicating-teens-covid

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom and other types of videoconferencing calls are causing many people to feel fatigued by the nonverbal cue overload, constant close-up eye contact, video distraction, and extensive self-view. A Today Show segment highlights recent psychological research published in Technology, Mind, and Behavior that identifies why videoconferencing can be especially draining and what people can do to minimize those effects.

https://www.today.com/video/could-zoom-be-taking-a-toll-on-your-mental-health-101511749572

People with lower education or health literacy levels, a tendency to use alternative medicine, or a distrust of the health care system are more likely to believe misinformation and inaccurate medical postings on social media than others are, according to research published in Health Psychology. The researchers say the findings could help public health officials develop more targeted messaging and outreach for a range of health care issues, such as public information efforts currently underway to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake and mask wearing.

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2021/03/education-alternative-medicine-misinformation

Meditation practices date back thousands of years and are a part of nearly every major religion, but only in the past few decades have researchers begun to explore what’s happening in the brain when people meditate and how meditation might benefit our mind and body. Richard Davidson, PhD, director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a pioneer in the scientific study of meditation, joins APA’s Speaking of Psychology podcast to discuss what scientists have learned and how these ancient practices can help us flourish.

https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/meditation

Many aspects of our pandemic lives could lead to impaired executive functioning, say psychologists in a New York Times article. Managing too many details, such as parents organizing their children’s video calls along with their own, can hinder our ability to plan, organize, and remember instructions, and chronically high stress levels can lead to memory impairments in healthy adults. Experts offer tips for feeling less scattered.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/parenting/quarantine-brain-memory.html

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a year of extreme loss for so many, ranging from the death of loved ones to the loss of everything about our bygone lives. Saying goodbye in the age of physical distancing became even more complicated, with many people losing the opportunity to spend final moments together or share social connection through funerals or other traditional mourning customs. There have also been extensive ambiguous losses: the loss of a sense of safety, of social connections and personal freedoms, of jobs and financial security. Psychologists’ research on loss and grief recognizes the importance of naming and claiming our grief and offers insight on “living losses.”

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/06/covid-grieving-life

Protect Your Child’s Mental Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/protect-your-familys-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Confident Parents, Confident Kids

https://confidentparentsconfidentkids.org/

Tools and Strategies to Support Mental Wellness During this Uncertain Time (Strategies/Mental Moments)

https://www.effectiveschoolsolutions.com/covid19

Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-changes-resulting-from-covid-19

Take a Break, Keep Perspective, Be Kind in Uncertain Times

https://www.mindfulschools.org/personal-practice/take-a-break-keep-perspective-be-kind-in-uncertain-times/

Self-Care Starter Kit

https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/self-care-starter-kit.html

Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/care-for-caregivers-tips-for-families-and-educators

How to Get More Sleep Tonight

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/style/self-care/sleep-tips-benefits-coronavirus.html

COVID-19 Well-Being Toolkit and Resources

https://centerhealthyminds.org/well-being-toolkit-covid19

Stress and Coping

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprepare%2Fmanaging-stress-anxiety.html

Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Talking-With-Children-Tips-for-Caregivers-Parents-and-Teachers-During-Infectious-Disease-Outbreaks/PEP20-01-01-006

Managing Anxiety in an Anxiety Provoking Situation (English)

https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/guidance/covid-19-managing-stress-anxiety.pdf

Calm and Take a Deep Breath Meditation

https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath?utm_source=lifecycle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=difficult_times_subs_031720

Resource for Parents During Coronavirus

https://nyssswa.org/resources-for-parents-during-coronavirus/

Positive Psychology Grades 9-12 

https://positivepsychology.com/category/resilience/

Parent Tool Kit Grades K-12 

https://www.parenttoolkit.com/topics/social-and-emotional

Tips for Talking to Your Child about Coronavirus

https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

The following resources offer guidance for self-care as well as strategies for talking about COVID-19 honestly and effectively with young people. 

Feeling Stressed About Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Managing Anxiety in an Anxiety-Provoking Situation  New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) 

The outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has led to the spread of fear and panic for individuals and communities. In addition to following physical precautions guidelines, individuals should be taking care of their psychological well-being. 

This guide includes tips for the following populations: 

• For Everyone
• For Individuals Receiving Mental Health Services
• For Parents, Including Parents of Children with Pre-Existing Anxiety Disorders
• For Caregivers of Older Adults
• For Mental Health Providers

The guide is also available in the following languages.

• Bengali
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Haitian-Creole
• Korean
• Russian
• Spanish

OMH has also created the New York State Emotional Support Line staffed by specially trained volunteers who can help you. Call 1.844.863.9314.

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National Association of School Psychologists 

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource National Association of School Psychologists 

• The publication, Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, from the National Association of School Psychologists, offers suggestions for remaining calm and assuring, making yourself available to young people, keeping explanations age appropriate, avoiding excessive blaming, monitoring television and social media exposure, maintaining a normal routine to the extent possible, being honest and accurate, knowing the symptoms of COVID-19, reviewing and modeling basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection, and discussing new rules or practices for school.

Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators  

• The National Association of School Psychologists also offers guidance for caregivers, called Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators. Parents, teachers, and other caregivers play a critical role in helping children cope with crises, often ignoring their own needs in the process. However, caregivers must take good care of themselves, so they are able to take good care of the children in their charge.

Addressing Grief

The National Association of School Psychologists also offers brief facts and tips for addressing grief for young people.

Coping with a Crisis Webinar:  March 26, 2020, 12:30-1pm  

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Mental Health Association in New York State - School Mental Health Resource and Training Center (https://mhanys.org/registration/) 

• Most families will experience a crisis (illness, loss, natural disaster, etc.) at some point. Whether it's family-specific or community-wide, families are impacted differently.
• Created specifically for families and caregivers, the Mental Health Association in New York State is offering a webinar, Coping with a Crisis, to provide knowledge and tools to promote whole family wellness during a time of crisis: recognition of stress indicators, the development of coping strategies and positive communication.
• Registration will be available soon on the MHANYS’s website. In addition, the webinar will be archived for viewing at a later time.
• The School Mental Health Resource and Training Center is a project of Mental Health

Association in New York State, Inc. with funding from the New York State Legislature and Executive. School Districts and families are encourage to check out the many mental health trainings and resources on its website.

Helping Children After Tragic Events: Stop Watching, Start Talking  New York State Department of Health 

• Watching and listening to very bad news reports can upset children. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and healthcare providers can do a lot to help children feel safer and less stressed. Turning off the TV and other screens is a good start. News coverage of tragic events is not healthy for kids. Here's why.
  • The constant news of tragic events can be intense and hard to avoid. o When an event is on the news around the clock, it doesn’t go away for a child.
  • The constant news of the event can hurt a child’s mental and physical health. They can feel less secure and safe.
  • Even when an event takes place far away from a child’s home, seeing the event on TV can make the child feel like it’s a threat to them and the people they love.
  • Mental stress from a disaster can be harder on children than on adults. o Children feel less of a sense of control. o Children understand less about the situation. o Children have fewer experiences bouncing back from hard situations. o You can help kids after these events. Here's how. o Ask them: What have you already heard about the event? Do you have any questions? o Share basic information, not the details. o For younger children: turn off the TV, the radio, and the computer or tablet. o For older children: watch a news report with them and help them to understand it.
  • Parents, teachers, doctors, and others can make a difference.
• The New York State Department of Health offers further information for helping children after tragic events on its website.

Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

• The fact sheet Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks from the S. Department of Health & Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides parents, caregivers, and teachers with strategies for helping children manage their stress during an infectious disease outbreak. It describes potential reactions among youth and the support adults can provide to help them.

Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

• At this time, information about COVID-19 is rapidly evolving as new details are confirmed and new questions emerge. In the event of an outbreak in your community, as a parent/caregiver, your first concern is about how to protect and take care of your children and family. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce your stress and help calm likely anxieties.
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s guide Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) will help you think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect your family—both physically and emotionally—and what you can do to help your family cope.

Coronavirus School Response Resources

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The New York State School Social Workers’ Association offers a compilation of Coronavirus School Response Resources specific to school social workers, resources specific to New York, resources for children and parents, articles and websites.

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New York State Office of Mental Health Crisis Counselors: Call 1.800.273.TALK or text GOT5 to 741741

• Are you struggling in the midst of COVID-19? Crisis counselors are still just a phone call or text away.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255) 

• If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained crisis workers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1.800.662.HELP (4357)/1.800.487.4889 (TDD)

• Free and confidential information in English and Spanish for individuals and family members facing substance abuse and mental health issues. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Utilize the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.

https://childmind.org/blog/talking-kids-race-violence-america/

https://childmind.org/blog/talking-to-kids-about-george-floyd/

Other related resources:

https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/anti-bias-tools-strategies

https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/george-floyd-racism-and-law-enforcement

www.tolerance.org

https://globallives.org/participate/educate/

New York State Education Department:

Resources for Mental Health and Speaking to Young People about COVID-19

NPR: 

Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

National Association of School Psychologists:

Parent Guide to Speaking with Your Child about Coronavirus