Jacqueline Melendez, Program

1
The Many Faces of Stress and Student Mental Health

• Jacqueline Melendez, Program
• Specialist School Counseling/School Social Work
• Georgia Department of Education

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Psychological Definitions

• Stress The pattern of specific and nonspecific
  responses an organism makes to stimulus events
  that disturb its equilibrium and tax or exceed
  its ability to cope.
• Stressor An internal or external event or
  stimulus that induces stress.

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Types of Stress

• Acute (short- term) is the bodys instant
  response to any situation that seems demanding or
  dangerous.
• Chronic (long-term) is caused by stressful
  situations or events that last over a long period
  of time.

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Common Causes of Stress

• Financial
• Emotional
• Physical
• Environment
• Culture
• Self Induced

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When Does Stress Occurs?

• Stress is what you feel when you have to handle
  more than you are used to.
• Negative stress can be linked to headaches, upset
  stomachs, back pain, and trouble sleeping.
• Can weaken the immune system, cause mood swings
  and depression.

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Symptoms of Stress - General

• Stomachaches and/or headaches
• Trouble concentrating and/or completing
  assignments, drastic changes in academic
  performance
• May become withdrawn
• May spend a lot of time withdrawn
• Nightmares
• Over-react to minor problems

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What is Mental Health?

• Refers to the psychological well-being
• Includes feelings and quality of relationships,
• Ability to manage feelings and difficulties

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Other Symptoms of Stress

• Persistent sadness/crying
• Excessive anxiety
• Lack of sleep/constant fatigue
• Excessive irritability
• Increased drinking
• Drug abuse
• Difficulty paying attention
• Apathy
• Not functioning well at work or school

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Other Symptoms of Stress

• Younger students
• - thumb sucking
• - hair twirling
• - nose picking
• Older students
• - may begin to lie
• - bully others
• - defy authority

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Negative Outcomes of Stress

• Academic failure
• Social maladjustment
• Health problems
• Poverty
• Mental illness
• Substance abuse
• Law enforcement involvement

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Effects of Stress

• Immune system
• Heart
• Muscles
• Stomach
• Reproductive organs
• Lungs
• Mental health problems

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An Essential Statement

• There is a greater need for family and
  community-based education about mental illness
  and suicide risk along with increased access to
  mental health screening.

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Mental Health Assessments

• School based mental health assessments have had
  significant success in identifying adolescent
  at-risk suicidal behavior and can facilitate high
  rates of follow-up.

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Stress Management Strategies

• Use humor.
• Alter the situation
• Adapt to the stressor.
• Accept what cant be changed.

• Make time for fun and relaxation.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Develop supportive relationships.

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Resilience

• Resilience is the ability to become personally
  and professionally successful despite severe
  adversity
• Resilience is a normal trait that comes from
  inborn tendencies to adapt
• Resilience can be fostered in the right
  environment
• (Paine, 2002)

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Why Resilience is important

• Resilience is essential to success in life
• Adults can help children become more resilient
• Fostering resilience in improves personal
  outcomes and reduces risk behaviors

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Resilience Factors

• Caring and supportive relationships.
• The ability to make realistic plans and
  implementation of plans.
• Problem solving and communication skills.
• Self confidence and self reliance.
• Capacity to manage strong impulses and feelings.

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Developing Resiliency

• Learn to accept change.
• Self- discovery
• Set goals.
• Develop positive views
• Keep things in perspective.
• Maintain a hopeful outlook.
• Self care.
• Avoid fatal view of crises.

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Stress, Resiliency, and Culture

• People react in different ways.
• Culture can have an impact on communicating
  feelings, and reaction to adversity.

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Why Consider Culture?

• Provides people with a design for living
• Shapes how people see their world and structure
  community and family.

• A persons cultural affiliation often determines
  the persons values, norms, and way of living.

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Diversity Issues

• Life Experiences
• Family Issues
• Behavioral Adjustment
• Academic Performance
• Second Language Acquisition Process

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Helping Children Cope Tips for Parents and
Teachers

• Identify vulnerable students and populations
• Be reassuring
• Acknowledge and normalizes students feelings
• Maintain a normal routine
• Adults take care of your needs
• Increase positive family time
• Be a good listener
• NASP, 2008

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Helping Children Cope Tips for Parents and
Teachers

• Turn off/restrict television
• Prepare child for family changes
• Discuss what is occurring in age appropriate
  terms
• Present facts minimally
• Try to avoid extended blaming
• Help children explore and express their feelings
  and opinions with respect
• (NASP, 2008)

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Helping Children Cope Tips for Parents and
Teachers

• Parents communicate with school
• Teachers assess students needs
• Consider class discussion if students indicate
  interest
• Encourage students to talk to parent, teacher, or
  other caring adult
• Seek positive activities for children to help
  others in need

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Helping Children Cope Tips for Students

• Be aware of your feelings
• Avoid worse case scenarios
• Maintain normal routines
• Take care of your health, etc.
• Discover and focus on your strengths
• Do something to help others
• Use all news sources

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Helping Children Cope Tips for Students

• Keep news in perspective
• Know that adults are upset
• Remain positive

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What to do if this is not successful

• Consult with school personnel
• Psychologist
• Counselor
• Social worker
• Consult with mental health personnel in the
  community
• Consult with spiritual counselors, churches, etc
• Consult with physicians, if stress is prolonged

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Look Listen Link Washington State Project

• Curriculum designed for middle school.
• Consists of four 45 minute lessons.
• That help students to

• Identify causes of stress.
• Healthy ways of coping with stress and anxiety.
• Recognize friends who are depressed and how to
  link them to resources.

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2005 Georgia Suicide Facts

• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for
  11-18 year olds.
• 1999-2005, a total of 6,433 suicide attempts
  resulted in death.
• 7.9 attempt suicide.
• 12.4 make a plan for suicide.
• 15.5 seriously think about suicide.

Teen Screen National Center for Mental Health
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Resources

• Teen Screen National Center www.teenscreen.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  www.afsp.org
• Kids Health http//kids.org
• University of Michigan http//health.med.umich.ed
  u
• UCLA School of Mental Health http//smph.psych.uc
  la.edu