PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND SELF-CARE
DURING A HEALTH CRISIS

Dear colleagues and friends,

Last Friday afternoon I started working on both our Practice Plan for responding to COVID-19 and this newsletter for parents on how to talk to your children. Friday afternoon, I felt like I was ahead of the curve with these preparations. By Sunday night, I felt very much behind the curve. Things can happen rapidly during an infectious disease crisis. 

That said, I’m glad that our Practice Plan includes expanded use of telehealth, or online therapy , via a HIPAA compliant, encrypted, and easy-to-use online platform.

We know from experience and research that anxiety, depression and stress are features of health epidemics. And, we understand that children and adults who are already experiencing distress may be more vulnerable to an exacerbation of symptoms. Another stressor we’re hearing more about is stigma. As the CDC has emphatically noted, ethnicity is not a risk factor for coronavirus. Yet fear and stigma are hurting many people in our community. Our goal: to help children, teens and families to maintain their supportive psychotherapy and to assist parents with the resiliency tools to help families navigate the variety of stressors right now.

In this newsletter, we’re including six tips to help you talk with your children . And, we’ve included some additional resources for those of you interested in doing a deeper dive into promoting mental health and self-care during a health crisis.

Wishing us all good health, good wisdom, and good calm as we journey together.
In gratitude,
CEO & Founder of the Institute for Girls’ Development
Licensed Psychologist (PSY 13102)


An infectious disease outbreak like the coronavirus is a challenge for all of us. Stress, anxiety, and depression are just a few of the psychological ramifications. It is also a reminder of how interconnected we all our as humans - and how we can foster resilience in ourselves, our families and communities. Bringing the challenge and the opportunity together I pose the question, "What can we do to help us ?" Here are 6 things to consider.

Find your calm. I know, easier said than done. And yet we know that our children take their cues from us and our emotional states. If we are anxious or panicked, they feel it. Their bodies and minds get the message that things are not ok. So do what works for you to process your own anxiety first. Talk to a friend, trusted adult, therapist to help settle your nervous system. Go for a run. Do yoga. Breathe. Know that your groundedness is a gift and will help your children feel calmer and safer.

Start the conversation. Your conversations will be different depending on the age and temperament of your children. We often recommend starting with finding out what your children already know. What have they heard? What are their feelings about what’s going on? Your genuine curiosity builds connection and helps your children or teens feel heard. It also gives you a great spring board for responding in a more accurate way to their questions and concerns. Remember to consider the age and temperament of your children.

Be sure to include:

  • Validation of feelings: “It sounds like what you heard brought up some scary feelings for you.”

  • Reassurance: “Adults at home and school are taking care of your safety. If you have worries, we want you to talk to the grown-ups you trust.”

  • Accurate information: “There are things you can do to help yourself stay well and to reduce the spread of illness - like washing your hands often while singing Happy Birthday twice.” Deliver accurate information honestly, age appropriately, and yes, calmly. For more tips on age-appropriate language, see the resource article below on talking to children from the National Association of School Psychologists.

Teach and practice good hygiene and healthy life style practices. The CDC has great resources on hygiene practices, especially hand washing. We’ve included a link for your convenience in the resource section below. Make these practices fun – for example singing the ABC’s or Happy Birthday while hand washing for 20 seconds. It can be empowering for youth and adults alike to know that there are actions we can take to support our own health and well-being – and the health and well-being of others. We want to foster that sense of control for youth during a time when there may be things that are out of their control.

Maintain normal routines as much as possible. Our daily rhythms help us a lot – emotionally and physically! Maintain bedtime schedules, meal times and physical activity as much as possible. In fact, you may want to give these nourishing routines more attention than usual. Prepare a favorite meal. Offer some extra cuddle time at bedtime. Play a family game outside. The extra quality family time can help foster resiliency in times of stress.

Limit media exposure for yourself and your children. It's tempting to be checking in on the latest media announcements about the virus. And, this can also ramp up stress – for you and/or the young people in your life. Monitor your media consumption.

Communicate with the schools. Know your children’s school plans. There is always a chance of some school closures. This is something that many parents are concerned about already, due to the strain on families anticipated. When talking about school closures, frame it in as practical a tone as possible. “Yes, some schools are closing for a while to help us all stay healthy and to slow the spread of the virus.” Amidst the challenges, we encourage family plans to include some fun, unplugged ways to share family time if children are going to be home from school. 

As we travel this challenging experience together as humans, continue to consider the question, "What can we do for us ?" Continue to bring kindness for yourself and others into your daily rhythms and self-care.

RESOURCES
Provided by the National Association of School Psychologists

This fact sheet 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.

This fact sheet provides tips for coping with stress during an infectious disease outbreak. It describes common signs of stress and how to recognize when
 to get help.


THE CDC offers a helpful overview of
COVID - 19 and how it spreads.

Germs are everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make you sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water or hand sanitizer is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.

THERAPY & ASSESSMENT SERVICES

Interested in family therapy?
We offer strength-based therapy for  individuals,  groups,  couples and  families. 

See our current therapy groups by age:

Comprehensive assessments - psychological, neuropsychological, academic, and cognitive - are available as well.

To learn more, call us at 626-585-8075 ext. 108 or email  PHoward@IFGD.care.
Empowering girls, families and their circles of community.

95 N. Marengo Ave. Suite 100
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-585-8075 ext. 108
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PLEASE NOTE:  Nothing in what you find here should be construed as medical advice pertinent to any individual. As is true with all written materials, you must be the judge of what appears valid and useful for yourself. Please take up any questions you might have regarding the content of this with your psychotherapist or physician.