When a loved one dies, many people experience grief that eventually subsides as they acclimate back into their life and routine. However, complicated grief, or chronic bereavement disorder, is a clinical term that refers to grief that is ingrained in a person’s habits to a disabling degree, impairing functioning.

Complicated grief can affect more than just emotions; it can take over someone’s life. According to the Mayo Clinic, this form of grief can lead to feelings of worthlessness and even suicide, similar to mental health disorders such as depression. It’s important to recognize the struggle people with complicated grief experience – when starting over again feels like the last thing they want to do.

Grief doesn’t look the same for everyone. Depending on the time frame, grief can come in three stages, according to Columbia University’s Center for Complicated Grief.

ACUTE GRIEF

The initial period after a loss,  where emotions tend to be more unpredictable. Grief and yearning are coupled with anxiety, anger and guilt. Thoughts are focused on the deceased and it’s difficult to concentrate on anything else. Grief dominates the person’s life.

INTEGRATED GRIEF

The adaptation period after a loss.  Integrated grief focuses on adjusting to the loss. The behaviors related to the loss are integrated into a person’s life in a way that allows them to honor the deceased.

COMPLICATED GRIEF

A situation in which something interferes with adaptation,  causing prolonged acute grief. It can be accompanied by intense emotional pain and a fear of a future without the deceased, which causes clinically significant distress or impairment in life functioning.

Complicated grief affects how someone adapts to a loss. According to the Center for Complicated Grief, there are three processes related to loss adaption:

Dr. Natalia Skritskaya, a psychologist at the Center for Complicated Grief, believes all people have a built-in biological capacity to adapt that helps restore normalcy, re-envision the future, and re-engage with life. But when something gets in the way of this process, the grief freezes and intensity of emotions stay high.

“We’ve been using the six-month benchmark for adaption to loss, but there’s some debate about certain losses being harder to adapt to – such as a loss of a parent or child, a violent loss, or sudden, unexpected loss of a younger person,” Skritskaya said.

According to a report from the Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention, 5% to 20% of people who are grieving experience complicated grief (PDF, 289 KB). The report backed up Skritskaya’s assertion that developing complicated grief depends heavily on circumstances surrounding the death and is difficult to measure because it’s so subjective for each person.

Grieving a loss can be strenuous and debilitating. Many complicated grief symptoms appear like acute grief; the difference is that the symptoms persist after six to 12 months and impair daily functioning, according to the Melissa Institute.

The Mayo Clinic adds that people who experience complicated grief may have difficulty continuing with normal routines, may experience social isolation, and may have feelings of self-blame.

“It’s very natural to start thinking of alternative scenarios or things you could have done to prevent the death,” said Skritskaya.

Grief affects more than emotional responses – it’s also linked to physical responses. Physiological dysregulation manifests through various areas of the body due to grief, said Skritskaya. From sleep to appetite, it can impact daily functioning

The body responds physically to grief through stress response in the brain, loss of sleep, lack of appetite, and weakened immune function in the cardiac system.

Many people who grieve feel pressure to recover from a loss.

“I think we have a cultural attitude that no one wants to hear about death or that they might feel awkward around a grieving person, so people don’t know what to say,” said Skritskaya. “But we don’t grieve well alone.”

One place to turn for support is to a counselor.

Interviewing is one way a counselor can assist with a client’s grieving process and take a closer look at complicated grief. The Grief and Mourning Status Interview and Inventory (GAMSII), highlighted in the Melissa Institute’s report, is a guided interview to address the circumstances of the death, the meaning of what’s been lost, coping mechanisms, the grieving person’s response to death, and overall understanding and comprehension of the grieving process. The interview technique offers suggestions for questions covering the five topics.

Counselors may also encourage the use of self-monitoring procedures, such as the Grief Monitoring Diary. Journaling allows people with complicated grief to rate their grief intensity. By using this diary, clients better understand where they’re at with grief. Coping this way can help clients sort out their emotions and map triggers and variability in responses to grief.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, unrelenting natural disasters, international conflict and high-profile incidents of violence, many people are collectively grappling with loss and subsequent grief. Some may experience grief more intensely than others do, for longer periods of time. 

There are ways to deal with prolonged grief by taking anticipatory steps to address loss. A study on surrogate decision-makers for the critically ill indicates that social workers and counselors can help caregivers mentally prepare for a loved one’s death, which could stave off symptoms of complicated or prolonged grief. Many people who experience loss may not have the chance to anticipate it, but for those who do, Psychology Today and Mental Health America (PDF, 2MB) offer the following suggestions for dealing with grief: 

Having social support is key to helping with adaptation. Active listening can be a good approach to help a grieving person. Active listening starts with asking how someone who is grieving is feeling and letting them guide the direction of the conversation. It’s important not to interrupt, but rather to be encouraging and responsive with positive feedback and focus closely on what the bereaved person is saying and feeling.

“Don’t push what you think is helpful,” Skritskaya said. “Let them take the lead and be sensitive to what they prefer to talk about.”

Loved ones can help a grieving person plan and organize opportunities for positive emotions to emerge by doing simple things like going on a walk together or reminding them of an activity they used to enjoy.

“People who are struggling with grief feel they have to accommodate other people when it comes to their emotions, so just being there for someone makes a big difference,” she said.

One thing to remember is that people may want to talk about their deceased loved ones but fear they will make others uncomfortable by sharing old memories. Loved ones should give them the space to voice their thoughts and feelings in an honest way.

“Loss adaptation is like relearning life again,” said Skritskaya. “You have to give it time.”

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in counseling, read more about how to become a grief counselor and visit our list of master’s in mental health counseling programs online to find the right school for you.

Retirement is a major life change. It can bring on a wide range of emotions, from feelings of excitement and freedom to fears and anxiety about finances and filling your time once you no longer have the daily routine of a job. This is especially true for people whose identity was closely tied to their career. Many people discover that retirement is not an event but rather a much longer transition that has many phases. 

Even if they are financially prepared to stop working, many people are simply not psychologically ready to retire.

“I struggled with it. It wasn’t what I expected,” Nancy Schlossberg told MarketWatch in an article about the psychological burden of retirement. Today, she is an expert on transitions and the author of several books about retirement and aging. 

Schlossberg and other experts advise people considering retirement to start planning several years before their target date. Then expect a year or so of adjustment after the novelty wears off. Flexibility and resilience are key. 

“This is an entirely new experience,” says gerontologist Ken Dychtwald, coauthor of the 1989 best seller Age Wave and founder of a consulting firm that bears the same name. “You’ve been in patterns for decades. How is a person to know what will satisfy them?”

Dychtwald has identified five stages of retirement. 

Surveys conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Edward Jones and Age Wave were the basis for the recent report The Four Pillars of the New Retirement: What a Difference a Year Makes (PDF, 3.3 MB). According to the report, most retirees say all four interdependent pillars—health, family, purpose and finances—are essential to optimal well-being in retirement. 

While finances typically get the most attention when it comes to retirement, “being financially secure” was actually rated least important (by 59% of survey respondents) compared to the other three pillars. “Having good physical/mental health” was rated most important, with 85% of survey respondents putting that at the top of their list.

Experts recommend using the following coping strategies for dealing with the challenges retirement presents in order to facilitate the transition to this next part of life.

Online Counseling Programs collected the following resources for retirees as they navigate the mental health challenges of this new phase of life. 

Age Wave: Billed as “the nation’s foremost thought leader on issues relating to an aging population,” Age Wave offers research and consulting, educational programs and publications related to expectations, attitudes, hopes and fears regarding retirement.

RetirementWisdom: This website offers coaching, a newsletter, blog, podcast and other resources to help you prepare for the transition to retirement and create the second act you want. 

Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies: This nonprofit publishes a wide range of research on various topics, including an annual survey and reports on women and retirement and planning for travel in retirement. 

Encore.org: With a focus on intergenerational connection, this nonprofit offers opportunities and ideas to bridge divides, bring joy to the second half of life and help all ages thrive. 

You’re Probably Not Ready to Retire — Psychologically, MarketWatch: Research shows that adjusting to retirement is difficult for people whose identity is tied to their job. They report more boredom, anxiety and feelings of uselessness. 

How to Deal With Depression After Retirement, Verywell Mind: Graphic and list of tips to make the transition to retirement smoother, and what to do if your depression is more serious.

Retirement Blues: Taking It Too Easy Can Be Hard on You, Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard experts say that for optimal well-being in retirement, you need to stay engaged with your own interests and with other people. Doing either too little or too much can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, appetite loss, memory impairment and insomnia.

The One Retirement Risk You’re Probably Not Preparing For? Depression, USA Today: Statistics on mental health in older people, top sources of stress and how a “phased” retirement may help. 

6 Tips to Combat Post-Retirement Depression, Investopedia: Studies show that staying in shape and giving back through volunteer work positively impact mental well-being. 

Depression After Retirement: Symptoms, Treatments and How to Cope Choosing Therapy: How to find mental health support, including online options, group therapy or a therapist or counselor who has expertise working with older adults and retirees. 

10 Tips to Help Your Marriage Survive Retirement, U.S. News & World Report: Tips for adjusting to a spouse’s retirement, such as planning how you’ll spend your time, pursuing individual interests and negotiating household chores.

Advice for Couples Who Stagger Retirement, AARP: When one spouse retires before the other, it can cause stress in a relationship. Here are some common issues many couples encounter.

Helping a Loved One Cope with a Mental Illness, American Psychiatric Association: How to spot the warning signs, how to approach the issue and how to find support for the person and yourself. 

Depression and Suicide in Older Adults, American Psychological Association: Articles, books and resources for addressing depression, a common mental health issue in the elderly.

The RetirementWisdom Podcast: Retirement planning often focuses on only the financial piece. This podcast covers the other aspects of preparing for life after full-time work through interviews with experts.

The Retire With Purpose Podcast: Designed to help retirees and pre-retirees improve their financial confidence, this podcast features interviews with experts in finance and retirement, and also covers topics such as mending relationships and finding a retirement coach. 

The Psychology of Aging Podcast: Hosted by clinical geropsychologist Regina Koepp, experts discuss topics surrounding mental health and aging, dementia, caregiving and end of life. Recent episodes featured care for LGTBQ seniors and preventing elder financial abuse.

7 Must-Listen Retirement Podcasts That Aren’t About Money, Kiplinger: From health to news to making friends, these wide-ranging podcasts may be of interest to retirees. 

Video: How to Help with Retirement Depression: Dr. Joseph Sivak, director of behavioral health at The Villages Health, a 55+ community in Florida, explains the phenomenon of retirement depression and offers some tips for coping with it. 

TEDxDrogheda: Retirement: From Foreboding to Fulfillment: A former software developer for IBM Ireland discusses his journey through the stages of grief following retirement and how he redefined himself. 

West End Seniors’ Network: A 5-Minute Video on Retirement and Loss of Identity: A woman discusses how cultivating creative pursuits helped her reinvent herself after a 35-year career. 

Your Next Chapter: A Woman’s Guide to Successful Retirement, by Alexandra Armstrong, CFP, and Mary R. Donahue, Ph.D.: This book, written by a financial planner and a psychologist, helps women navigate this transition in their lives, emotionally and financially. 

The Best Is Yet To Be: Discovering the Secret to a Creative, Happy Retirement, by Mike Bellah, Ph.D.: When college professor Mike Bellah retired early, he expected his golden years to be happy and carefree. But within weeks fears of lost identity and limited funds left him panicked and depressed. In this book, the author combines research and personal narrative to explain how he got his hope back.

Retirement Heaven or Hell: 9 Principles for Designing Your Ideal Post-Career Lifestyle, by Mike Drak, Susan Williams and Rob Morrison, CFP: Sudden, “full-stop” retirement can be a shock, found the author. This book outlines nine key principles to coach you on how to transition successfully to retirement and eliminate the stress that comes with this huge life change.

Winning at Retirement: A Guide to Health, Wealth & Purpose in the Best Years of Your Life, by Patrick Foley and Kristin Hillsley: This book aims to be a comprehensive guide to maintaining your health, managing your money and finding a greater purpose in retirement. The authors believe that far too many people plan only for the financial aspects without recognizing the importance of seeking a meaningful identity.

Keys to a Successful Retirement: Staying Happy, Active, and Productive in Your Retired Years, by Fritz Gilbert: An in-depth guide to retired living, covering topics including dealing with feelings of aimlessness, grief and depression that may surface and how to manage your mental health.

Retirement Your Way: The No Stress Roadmap for Designing Your Next Chapter and Loving Your Future, by Gail M. McDonald and Marilyn L. Bushey: A seven-step roadmap to help you discover and forge the right retirement path for you. Includes practical guidance, research and inspiring personal stories.

What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Future, by John E. Nelson and Richard N. Bolles: From the authors of best-selling career book What Color Is Your Parachute?, this guide provides practical tools including an exercise on values and how they inform your retirement, and the retirement well-being Pprofile, a resource for organizing the vast amount of information on finances and mental and physical health.

Purposeful Retirement: How to Bring Happiness and Meaning to Your Retirement, by Hyrum W. Smith: The former chairman and CEO of FranklinCovey and a renowned expert on time management challenges the conventional views of retirement and offers practical ideas on how to shift your mindset, embrace the transition and live life fully in retirement. 

A Couple’s Guide to Happy Retirement and Aging: 15 Keys to Long-Lasting Vitality and Connection, by Sara Yogev: Written by a psychologist specializing in work and family issues, this book summarizes the latest research findings and draws from stories of real couples. This book is intended to help partners prepare emotionally for the major life changes during retirement, nurture their relationship and find strategies to deal with differences around money, time together versus apart, housework and family.

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won’t Get from Your Financial Advisor, by Ernie J. Zelinski: Inspirational advice on achieving an active and satisfying retirement that includes interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical and mental well-being and solid social support.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-622-4357).

The toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to anyone in crisis. All calls are confidential. 

Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line is the only accredited crisis line in the country for people 60 years and older and adults living with disabilities. The 24-hour toll-free Friendship Line (800-971-0016) is a crisis intervention hotline and a warmline for non-emergency emotional support calls. 

AARP’s Friendly Voice service connects trained volunteers with callers who are isolated or experiencing challenges and want to talk. Call 1-888-281-0145 and leave your information and a volunteer will call you back.

The following resources are for informational purposes only; individuals should consult with a clinician before making decisions about mental health.

The content in this article is for informational purposes only; individuals should always consult with a mental health professional before making decisions related to personal health.

The National Institute of Mental Health reported in 2019 that more than 1 in 5 adults in the United States has a mental health condition. While symptoms can affect a person’s behavior and engagement with their work, the outcomes are different for everyone—and often not what people would assume.

“The bottom line is that many workers with serious mental illness are capable of working in regular, competitive workplaces and supporting themselves,” said health economist Marjorie L. Baldwin, PhD.

Baldwin, a professor at Arizona State University, is currently the principal investigator conducting a four-year study about the process of disclosing a severe mental health condition to an employer, including data about the decision to disclose and others’ reactions to a disclosure.

Being open about a mental health condition can be daunting, but ongoing research shows that avoiding disclosure can lead to burnout and other negative outcomes while transparency can lead to better workplace environments and reduce stigma about mental health.

Disclosing a mental health condition is not a legal requirement, but there can be benefits to being open about it with your employer or professional peers.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures rights to protections and accommodations in the workplace for people with disabilities, which they define as “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.”

Any mental illness (AMI) is a term used by the National Institute of Mental Health to describe a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder.

Go to a tabular version at the bottom of this page of Prevalence of Any Mental Illness in the Past Year Among U.S. Adults, 2019.

Discrimination is illegal under the ADA, and employees with a qualifying disability are entitled to two main protections: the right to privacy about their personal information and the right to receive accommodations that help them perform their jobs.  

Baldwin says people need to be more aware of their rights under the ADA.

“That goes for the employer’s side and the counselor’s side, too,” she said. “Employers need to know what they’re required to do for a worker with a disability and that they cannot reveal any personal health information to other employees.”

While some protections can be addressed by the ADA, some workers may not have a clinically diagnosed condition and may feel their needs aren’t legitimate enough to discuss with an employer. Research from the National Association for Mental Illness shows this misconception, and the resulting insecurities lead to higher rates of employee burnout and more severe outcomes for mental illness (PDF, 4.4MB).

“In some cases, if the employer has any experience of mental illness themselves or their own family, they might be able to relate to the worker’s experience compassionately,” Baldwin said of her research findings so far. But each person and work environment is different, and it can be hard to predict how a manager might react.

Before deciding whether to disclose, it can be helpful for workers to consider the benefits and costs of making their mental illness known to an employer (PDF, 591KB).

Benefits:

Baldwin said that the fear of discrimination is commonly cited by respondents in her research surveys.

“When we stigmatize a group, we tend to not want to be around them,” she said. Social isolation, microaggressions and harassment are all results of the stigma related to mental illness. While discrimination is illegal, it can take many forms, and can sometimes be displayed so subtly that the recipient feels unable to report it or be taken seriously.

She also noted that the fear of having private information outed to coworkers is a common risk calculation that individuals take when disclosing a condition. Outing others’ mental health concerns is an invasion of privacy, but Baldwin said that sometimes the results can be positive.

“In some cases when people were outed, the employer’s response was compassionate, helpful, understanding,” she said. “So, it doesn’t always necessarily be a negative situation, and sometimes it happens in ways that an employee might be able to predict.” 

A professional mental health counselor or therapist can offer support with creating a plan for disclosure. Dr. Zeyad Layous, a clinical psychologist in Falls Church, Virginia, says that counselors can work with clients to help them consider crucial aspects of the disclosure process and provide strategies for effective communication.

“The first thing to think about with the client would be formulating what they hope to achieve by disclosing,” Layous said, “and making sure their goals are realistic or feasible.”

For example, identifying specific accommodations that would help with job performance or comfort in the workplace like flexible hours, frequent breaks or the ability to work remotely. Not every accommodation will be possible in different work environments, but Layous recommends speaking directly with a representative from human resources because they’re likely to have experience with accommodations and mental health concerns.  

Layous also said counselors can help clients work through their fears of sharing sensitive information and develop strategies for initiating a conversation with an employer based on individual symptoms or conditions.  

“If they have a lot of anxiety, they might prefer to craft an email and control exactly what they write,” he said, “rather than getting nervous in person and not getting the information across as clearly as they want.”

Talking about mental health can be vulnerable and complicated, so Layous and Baldwin recommend making a few considerations before jumping into a candid conversation.

In addition to creating a plan, Layous said counselors can help clients by providing emotional support, offering to speak with employers and even confirming with HR representatives why specific accommodations may be clinically effective.

“Workplace realities often make it difficult for employers to implement the kind of accommodations that are being asked, even if we believe it’s perfectly legal,” he said. “So people have to really feel ready to disclose, and they have to know what sort of accommodations they’re looking for.”

“Mental illness is cyclical—symptoms might be controlled for a while, but then there might be a recurrence,” Baldwin said. “In some cases, the symptoms themselves out a worker, and we had a number of workers tell us that their employer came to them and noticed.” Baldwin said.  

If workers aren’t able to manage their symptoms, they may have to talk about their condition before they’re ready. 

Baldwin said there’s much to be gained from acknowledging an employee’s symptoms, even if you’re worried about overstepping or saying the wrong thing. Even if an employee is not experiencing a clinically diagnosed condition, being open and affirming of their needs can make a difference.  

“It shows their manager is sensitive enough to know something was wrong and caring enough to inquire about it,” Baldwin said.

While each situation is unique, Baldwin and Layous identified several strategies for affirming, inclusive and nonjudgmental ways to respond to an employee who has decided to disclose a mental health condition.

When employers are intentional about the culture they are maintaining among employees, they can create accommodating, healthy work environments to help employees stay productive and stay in the workforce. 

“We all benefit when people with mental illness are able to work,” Baldwin said. “Workers benefit because they can support themselves, and society benefits because people are being productive and contributing.”

Mental Health in the Workplace, Centers for Disease Control

Should You Disclose a Mental Illness During the Hiring Process?, TalkSpace

Should You Disclose Your Mental Illness to Your Employer?, Social Security Administration

Working With a Mental Health Condition, United States Office of Women’s Health

Resources to Support Employee Mental Health During COVID-19, Mind Share Partners

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Source: “Mental Illness,” National Institute of Mental Health, 2021.

For Tamara Ferebee, executive director of administration and co-founder of the Virginia-based National Association of Black Counselors,  seeing the change in this young man was concerning. But activism and advocacy work against racial injustice takes a toll on mental health, especially as people become acutely aware of the oppression and mistreatment that occurs regularly and the arduous, unrelenting work it will take to stamp out racism and bigotry.

“When people get into this, I don’t think that they should expect immediate change because the larger white majority does not want to give up their economic gains, domination and power,” said Ferebee, who is a licensed professional counselor. “Racism is embedded in the foundation of this country.”

The work of fighting oppression includes putting yourself in vulnerable positions to witness incidents and have experiences that can be upsetting, alarming and traumatic. Preserving your mental health and building mental resilience is necessary to continue the fight for justice.

Preparation can help people who want to participate in the fight against racial injustice manage the effects on their mental health. As Ferebee noted, progress is not instantaneous, so those who choose to participate, particularly those who are new to the movement, should mentally prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint.

“Movements will continue to be a source of innovation and change in attitudes toward systemic racism, but it will take time,” Ferebee said. “Many of the conversations we’re having will very much remind you of conversations from the 1960s.”

Frustration with the pace of progress is just one emotional response that may challenge participants. Ferebee encourages those who engage in the cause to anticipate the other emotions that could arise, especially in overwhelming situations such as a protest.

“Protesters need to be mindful of how they could feel anger or hypervigilance, and understand the risk for a reaction,” she said.

4 PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES TO KEEP SAFE INCLUDE:

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1. Attending events with a familiar group to look out for each other.
2. Having a safe spot for people who need a pause from the action.
3. Identifying a point at which people may need to remove themselves.
4. Developing a safe route and backup plan in the event of confrontation.

However, the effects that witnessing racial injustice can have on mental health extend beyond the momentary situations when people are engaging in a protest. And advocates and those in the movement may need coping techniques to address mental health concerns that impact their everyday lives.

“Movements will continue to be a source of innovation and change in attitudes toward systemic racism, but it will take time.”

– Tamara Ferebee, co-founder of the National Association of Black Counselors

Brandon J. Johnson, a Maryland-based public health expert in mental health and suicide prevention, shared coping strategies in a video he first posted to YouTube soon after the George Floyd incident. Johnson has since launched the Black Mental Wellness Lounge YouTube Channel where the video “Tips for African Americans to Heal After Collectively Witnessing an Injustice” can be found.

Allies also need to be mindful not to pile on or add to the struggles that people of color deal with daily when it comes to racism, inequality and inequity.

Jacques L. Austin, executive director of the Alabama-based Black men’s mental health advocacy group Brother Let’s Talk, has heard from a number of friends who have experienced a different form of frustration and have made comments such as: “I’m tired of trying to explain things to white people.” “I’m tired of trying to help them understand.” “They just don’t get it.”

Instead of placing the emotional burden on people of color to educate them about the movement and about what they can do, allies can help the movement by educating themselves and confronting prejudice in their circles, whether at the workplace or among friends and family.

“When someone says something that you know is racist in nature, is biased, or is derogatory, and you feel uncomfortable, speak out,” Austin said. “Say something, because to not say anything is to be complicit.”

AAKOMA Project: nonprofit doing outreach and starting conversations about mental health, especially among young people of color.

Balanced Black Girl: online community providing a safe space for conversations about mental, spiritual and social well-being for Black women.

The Black Brain Campaign: organization with a mission to educate the Black community about mental health and provide therapy to high school students in the Philadelphia area.

BEAM, Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: organization of advocates from various fields including the arts and health care working to address the emotional and mental health needs of Black communities.

Black Female Therapists: network supporting Black female therapists with a goal to provide safe spaces for the Black community.

Black Girls Smile: community providing young Black women support to lead mentally healthy lives.

Black Mental Health Alliance: organization supporting the health and well-being of Black people through culturally relevant educational forums, training, and referral services.

Black Mental Wellness: corporation founded by Black female clinical psychologists in Washington, D.C., addressing mental health and wellness concerns specific to the Black community.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: organization working to increase mental health support for members of the Black community and providing a directory of mental health providers and programs serving them.

Brother Let’s Talk: organization holding virtual support group conversations for men and women of color to talk about anger, stress, racial trauma, grief and suicide.

Call BlackLine: organization providing immediate crisis counseling hotline at 1-800-604-5841 through a Black, LGBTQ and Black Femme lens.

Community Healing Network: group encouraging Black people across the African diaspora to heal from trauma caused by anti-Black racism with summits and circles focused on healing.

Ethel’s Club: digital membership community focused on providing people of color with a space to heal and thrive.

Eustress: organization with events such as adult coloring nights and weekly men’s locker room conference calls to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in underserved communities.

Inclusive Therapists: community providing a directory of therapists that describes itself as an activist movement pursuing equity and justice in mental health care.

Loveland Therapy Fund: organization accepting applications for Black women and girls to get financial assistance for mental health therapy.

Melanin and Mental Health: website connecting people with culturally competent clinicians serving Black and Latinx communities.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: healing justice organization working to increase access to mental health resources for QTPOC.

Ourselves Black: online magazine providing stories of Black experiences to promote mental health well-being and care.

Showing Up for Racial Justice: national network of groups and individuals working to fight for racial justice by using an inclusive approach to organizing.

Sister Afya: organization encouraging a community support approach to mental wellness and connecting Black women to mental wellness services.

Steel Smiling: program striving to connect every Black person in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to a positive mental health experience that improves their quality of life.

The Steve Fund: national organization supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.

Therapy for Black Girls: online community providing a safe space for Black women to talk about mental health topics.

Therapy for Black Men: website offering a directory of therapists for men of color.

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Adverse Community Experiences and Resilience, Prevention Institute (PDF, 2.4 MB): publication offering a framework for communities dealing with violence to address and prevent community trauma.

Brother, You’re on My Mind Toolkit, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: materials to help educate others in the community about depression and stress in Black men.

Coping With Discrimination Guide: Self-Care Tips for Discrimination-Induced Trauma and Stress, DoSomething: guide to methods to maintain mental health.

Family-Care, Community-Care and Self-Care Tool Kit: Healing in the Face of Cultural Trauma, Community Healing Network and The Association of Black Psychologists (PDF, 956 KB): guide to strategies for personal and community well-being,

Healing in Action: A Toolkit for Black Lives Matter Healing Justice & Direct Action, Black Lives Matter (PDF, 166 KB): lessons and guidance on ensuring that actions focus on achieving healing justice with tips on grounding exercises related to breathing and mindfulness.

Racial Trauma Toolkit, Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture: advice on daily maintenance, response plans and how to deal with triggers related to racial trauma.

Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, The Trevor Project: guidance on common emotions, self-care practices and how to be a good ally.

Talking to Your Kids About Racism, UNICEF: advice for parents on how to start the conversation about race and acceptance at different ages.

We Must Unmute, American Psychological Association: APA advice about the importance of emotional expression and self-care while fighting social injustice.

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“Balanced Black Girl:” podcast from the Balanced Black Girl online network.

“Between Sessions:” podcast from Melanin and Mental Health community.

Black Mental Wellness Lounge: YouTube channel managed by Brandon J. Johnson, M.H.S., mental health advocate and expert.

“Black Therapist Podcast:” series from psychotherapist Nikita Banks, LCSW.

“The Effects of Racism on Mental Health: How to Cope:” webinar from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

“Fireflies Unite:” podcast from mental health advocate T-Kea Blackman.

“Therapy for Black Girls:” podcast series for Black women and girls.

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“Black Men and Depression: Saving Our Lives, Healing Our Families and Friends,” John Head: an examination of emotional disorders among men in the Black community, its origins and why it is important to get rid of the stigma of mental health therapy.

“Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting,” Terrie M. Williams: a discussion about the importance of helping others suffering in silence by someone who experienced depression, with suggestions to get healthy and build a supportive network.

“The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives,” Iresha Picot: compilation of stories by different people of color living with mental illness.

“My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies,” Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW, SEP: examination of racism’s effects from the perspective of body-centered psychology and what it does to our instincts to fight, flee or freeze.

“The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health,”  Rheeda Walker, Ph.D.: guide to recognizing mental health problems, how they impact your health and quality of life, what tools to use to neutralize stressors, and how to navigate a mental health care system that is unequal.

“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism,” Robin DiAngelo, Ph.D.: discussion about why white people become defensive about race and how to change that dynamic to work toward racial justice.

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The Safe Place: mental health app for the Black community.

Liberate: meditation app for the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.

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Information on OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified professionals with any questions you may have regarding mental health issues.

Do you have a passion for helping people or color navigate challenges related to mental health? Learn more about how to become a mental health counselor.

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects roughly 2.9% of American adolescents.  Characterized by intense high and low moods, bipolar disorder affects mood stability, energy levels and the ability to think clearly, according to the National Association of Mental Illness.  Left untreated, it can lead to many co-occurring issues, such as substance misuse.

To help teens and young adults who struggle with this illness, OnlineCounselingPrograms.com compiled a list of educational and support resources to better understand the symptoms and coping mechanisms related to the disorder and destigmatize the illness.

Information on OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified professionals with any questions you may have about medical or health-related issues.

Jump to:

Organizations | Virtual Support | Articles | Apps | Videos | Worksheets | Podcasts

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation: foundation supporting children and families with bipolar disorder.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance:  organization providing resources about mood disorders focused on mental wellness and education.

The Jed Foundation: foundation empowering teens and young adults with information about mental health and coping with mental illness. To access its helpline, call 1-800-273-8255 or text START to 741-741.

BP Children:  resource for kids, parents and teachers to understand and cope with bipolar disorder.

International Bipolar Foundation:  organization dedicated to mental health awareness and stigma eradication.

Bipolar Caregivers: website for people caring for others with bipolar disorder with suggestions to take care of themselves.

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Balanced Mind Parent Network, (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance): online support community for parents of children with mood disorders.

Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder: nonprofit organization that provides peer support groups advancing mental health education and community.

Support Groups, National Alliance on Mental Health, New York City Metro:  list of peer-to-peer support groups for those living with mental illness; friends, families and caregivers of people with mental illness; and social groups (such as creative writing, art, humor, music, and writing to heal). All are accessible online.

Teen Tribe: a peer support group for teens experiencing issues with mental health, such as bipolar disorder, that allows them to share their stories and support others.

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Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens, National Institute of Mental Health: information page about bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder, TeenMentalHealth.com: FAQs about bipolar disorder, including digital storytelling components of adolescents who suffer from it.

For Teens, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: resource for teens to learn about bipolar disorder, take a self-screening test, and explore treatment options.

Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use, Child Mind Institute: article about how teens with bipolar disorder often deal with co-occurring substance use disorder.

Bipolar Disorder And Black Americans, Mental Health America:  article about Black Americans dealing with bipolar disorder and how often it goes untreated and/or undiagnosed.

Hypomania and mania, Mind UK: information about the differences, causes and support for hypomania and mania.

Rapid Cycling, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance:  fact sheet about a specific type of bipolar disorder called rapid cycling, where mood episodes occur frequently in a 12-month period.

Three Stories of Rapid Cycling, International Bipolar Foundation: personal narratives from three people about their varied experiences with rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

The Difference Between Bipolar I and Bipolar II in Teens and Young Adults, Paradigm Treatment:  explanation of the differences between two types of bipolar disorder and how they manifest in teens.

Mania and Hypomania, Young Minds:  explanation of the differences in symptoms of mania and hypomania and how to treat them.

This Is What a Mixed Bipolar Episode Feels Like, SELF magazine: first-person narrative of mixed episodes and how they compare with regular bipolar episodes.

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Mood Log:  mood tracker that includes the ability to list physical symptoms.

eMoods: bipolar mood tracker that’s color-coded and helps track daily symptoms.

Daylio Journal: digital journal tracking moods, feelings and statistics with icons and activities.

Moodtrack Social Diary: journal for thoughts that allows users to choose words to describe their mood, track word frequency, and graph moods visually.

Bi Affect:  mood app that pays attention to technological signs (such as rapid typing) and other “virtual mental health footprints” that might indicate a drastic change of mood for those with bipolar disorder.

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Tell Me About Bipolar Disorder, National Alliance of Mental Health: short animated film explaining bipolar disorder and how to find support.

I’m Bipolar, But I’m Not…, Buzzfeed: video of young adults challenging stereotypes of bipolar disorder to reduce stigma and raise awareness.

Pro Skateboarder Billy Rohan Talks About Living with Bipolar Disorder, VICE:  video about a famous skateboarder’s experience with untreated bipolar disorder and how social support helps him manage.

Bipolar Disorder, RCPsych Public Engagement Committee:  short, animated video that explains the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

My Life Living with Bipolar Disorder, VICE:  video montage discussing individuals’ experiences with how bipolar disorder has affected their lives.

What is bipolar disorder? TED Talk Education:  video about bipolar disorder that delves deeper into the symptoms, causes and treatments.

Advice for the Newly Diagnosed, International Bipolar Foundation:  video featuring a bipolar teen giving guidance on how to handle bipolar disorder after a new diagnosis, such as pursuing hobbies and meditating.

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Symptom Record, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 180 KB): worksheet to list symptoms of depression, mania and neutral periods.

Mood Monitoring, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 57 KB):  chart monitoring moods weekly, with a numbering system based on what feels normal, when it’s time to intervene, and whether or not to monitor closely.

Weekly Activity Schedule, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 168 KB): open schedule for days of the week where users can fill out activities and chores to maintain a routine.

Stress-Vulnerability, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 115 KB):  checklist for vulnerability, stress and risk factors that may affect the intensity of a manic, hypomanic or depressive episode.

Making the Connection, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 119 KB):  worksheet of scenarios where users record their feelings about each one to help them differentiate thoughts from emotions.

A Plan of Action, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 123 KB):  resource to identify early warning signs of mania and depression while developing a plan to prevent relapse.

Early Warning Signs, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 94 KB): resource to describe what you are like when mildly depressed/elevated versus moderately depressed/elevated.

Coping Resources, Centre for Clinical Interventions, Government of Western Australia (PDF, 152 KB):  chart listing stressors, coping resources, barriers to effective coping, and strategies for overcoming barriers.

Response to Manic Symptoms – Costs & Benefits Analysis, Life Goals Collaborative Care (PDF, 4.1 MB):  resource charts response to manic symptoms, the positive and negative effects, and impacts on life goals and core values.

Personal Mania Symptom Profile, Life Goals Collaborative Care (PDF, 647 KB):   a checklist of mania symptoms divided by early warning, without warning, and first recognized by others.

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Young Adult Podcast Series, Depression and Bipolar Alliance Support:  podcast series hosted by members of the DBSA Young Adult Council focused on telling stories of adolescents living with bipolar disorder and the challenges they face.

Being UnNormal: Episode 90 – Being Bipolar: Willa’s Story:  an author discusses hypomania, misdiagnosis and bipolar management.

Bipolar Style:  podcast discussing pop culture, mental health and politics from a bipolar perspective.

Bipolar Boss: podcast discussing the host’s experience with getting healthy, with episodes about contextual situations such as being bipolar at the workplace and school.

This is Normal:  youth mental health podcast featuring teens sharing stories about their mental health struggles.

Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Teen Talk CNY:  teen-run podcast discussing what bipolar disorder looks like in teens, with guests from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

Mr. Joe’s Bipolar Podcast:  podcast focused on the host’s experience with bipolar mania, including sleep disturbances, inability to filter thoughts, and mixed episodes.

The Bipolar Family:  family-oriented podcast about individual struggles with bipolar disorder, as the person who is diagnosed, but also with caregivers.

Ep #42: Insights Into Someone’s Life With Bipolar Disorder & Depression, The Teenage Impact:  podcast in which a blogger with bipolar disorder discusses her struggles during her teen and young adult years, tackling emotional situations and coping skills for distress.

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Do you have a passion for helping young people navigate challenges related to mental health? Learn more about how to become a mental health counselor.

OnlineCounselingPrograms.com collected digital resources to help those in need of mental health support for problems such as loneliness, grief and depression during the holidays.

Jump to:

Anxiety and Stress | Depression | Family Tension | Grief | Isolation and Loneliness | Mental Illness | Mental Health Apps and Help Lines

Articles, Websites and Toolkits

Anxiety Test,  Mental Health America: online screening test that can help users determine if they are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and should see a physician or health care provider.

Find Your Holiday Happiness: Manage Anxiety and Depression,  Anxiety and Depression Association of America: strategies for reducing stress and travel fears, as well as tips for helping anxious children.

Managing Stress Around the Holidays, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation: ideas and tips to manage stress, such as setting boundaries.

Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping  Mayo Clinic: practical suggestions related to planning for the holidays, being realistic and knowing when to seek support.

Podcasts and Videos

Holidays and Anxiety: Stress the Halls,  The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast: tips to avoid stressful seasonal habits such as gift-buying and vacation planning.

Tips for Taming Stress During the Holidays: Health Impact of Stress,  Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center YouTube channel: discussion on how stress responses during the season can affect cancer patients.

Support Groups

Anxiety and Depression Online Support Group,  ADAA: safe space for those wanting to share and seek support from others who have the same experiences with anxiety and depression.

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Articles, Websites and Toolkits

Depression and Anxiety Around the Holidays,  Cedars Sinai: what to look for if you think someone is struggling with depression.

Depression Test, Mental Health America: online screening test to help determine if you are experiencing symptoms of depression and should see a physician or health care provider.

Healthy Holidays,  Mental Health First Aid: articles and tips on topics such as managing depression during winter and social anxiety during the season.

Helping Kids Cope With Holiday Blues,  Bright Futures for Youth: strategies to help children deal with sadness during the holidays.

Tip Sheet: Beating the Holiday Blues, Health in Aging Foundation: prevention techniques, coping strategies and warning signs to help seniors experiencing sadness around the holidays.

Podcasts and Videos

Beating the Holiday Depression and Anxiety, Silent Symptoms: Black Mental Health Podcast: explanation on how loss, loneliness and financial stressors can affect individuals during the season and how to cope.

Coping with Christmas and Holiday Depression, Stress and Anxiety, Dr. Cullen Hardy YouTube channel: animated video with strategies for coping with emotions during the holidays including setting boundaries and managing expectations.

Support Groups

DBSA Online Support Groups, Depression and Bipolar Alliance: peer-led virtual discussions for sharing experiences and coping strategies.

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Articles, Websites and Toolkits

10 Helpful Ways You Can Manage Family Stress During the Holidays,  Families for Depression Awareness: guidance on managing family-related stress, such as disconnecting from screens, to help enjoy experiences with relatives.

10 Ways to Cope With Difficult Relatives During the Holidays,  Scripps Health: strategies to make family gatherings more enjoyable, such as avoiding upsetting topics and limiting alcohol consumption.

Podcasts and Videos

Holiday Coping Techniques The Psych Central Podcast: tips for dealing with an annoying relative and more.

Holiday Survival Guide: Family Style,  Life Kit Podcast: how to navigate those tricky situations around family and celebrations, including having an escape plan.

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Coping With Grief During the Holidays, American Cancer Society: suggestions on how to cope with the loss of a loved one during the holidays and advice on helping children grieve.

How to Deal With Grief During the Holidays,  Psychology Today: strategies for surviving the season without your loved one.

How to Help a Grieving Loved One During the Holidays (PDF, 181 KB),  National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: what to say or do when a loved one is grieving.

Surviving the Holidays,  GriefShare: articles and videos from a network of support groups for those grieving the loss of a loved one during the holidays.

Podcasts and Videos

Navigating Grief and Loss Around the Holidays,  Minnesota Public Radio: discussion about people trying to deal with the death of a loved one while everyone else is celebrating.

Coping With Grief During the Holidays, Mindfulness and Grief Podcast: strategies to navigate overwhelming emotions and practice self-care with the understanding that grief is messy.

Support Groups

The Dinner Party:  online community for grieving 20- and 30-somethings to find peer support and build lasting relationships through (virtual) dinner parties.

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Articles, Websites and Toolkits

10 Things to Do if You’re Alone During the Holidays,  PsychCentral: activities, such as phoning a friend and volunteering, to help people feel better when they are alone during the holidays.

Comfort a Friend Facing a Lonely Holiday,  Option B: how to recognize someone may be lonely, how to be a good friend and how to recognize their need for space.

Connect2Affect:  assessments, tools and a searchable database to help connect those who might be feeling lonely to support systems.

Overcoming Loneliness Together (PDF, 13.5 MB),  Humana: information on the causes of loneliness, how to cope with loneliness and help others who are lonely.

Podcasts and Videos

Loneliness with Dr. Ellen Vora, Phoenix Helix Podcast: discussion about how to view the holidays as a time to learn more about yourself instead of setting unreasonable expectations.

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Articles, Websites and Toolkits

Coping With the Holidays Survival Guide,  PsychCentral: mental health articles on everything from coping with loneliness to gifts and drinking.

Coping with the Holidays When There Is Mental Illness (PDF, 449 KB),  NAMI Maryland: guide to planning for those living with mental illness, touching on subjects such as the importance of routine and familiarity.

Emotional Wellness This Holiday Season.  Vibrant Emotional Health: Q&A addressing common misconceptions related to Seasonal Affective Disorder, stress and more.

Keeping the Holidays Happy During COVID-19,  American Academy of Pediatrics: discussion and tips on how to help children handle changing routines and demands around the season.

How to Support Your Loved One With a Mental Illness During the Holidays, Mental Health First Aid: guidance on the importance of listening and encouragement for those living with mental illness.

Mental Health and the Holiday Season, Chester County (Pennsylvania) Fund for Women and Girls: warning signs that could indicate poor mental health during the holiday season.

Mental Illness: Coping with the Holidays (PDF, 131 KB),  NAMI Aurora, Colorado: suggestions to those living with mental illness during the holidays, such as scheduling time away from the large crowds and setting realistic goals.

Recognizing Holiday Triggers of Trauma,  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: the importance of creating meaningful alternative rituals to avoid traditional celebrations where situations are uncomfortable.

Podcasts and Videos

Social Media and the Holidays, Mental Health Gateway Podcast: how to avoid social media, which can add stress during the holidays.

Survive the Holidays and Preserve Your Mental Health,  Not Crazy Podcast: how to decide if not going to a party is the best option.

Tips for Coping with Bipolar Disorder During the Holidays, HealthyPlace Mental Health YouTube channel: the importance of self-care, sticking to a budget and avoiding social media.

Support Groups

Mental Health America Support Group and Discussion Community: forums categorized by different mental health conditions allow members to share and offer support.

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Apps

Breathe2Relax : how to perform and use diaphragmatic breathing techniques for stress control.

Covid Coach:  free tool to support self-care and stay healthy during a pandemic and beyond, with tips to stay connected and navigate parenting, caregiving and working from home.

Mindfulness Coach:  free tool with activity log and daily mood rating features to help users learn to use mindfulness to cope with unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

Warmlines, Hotlines and Text Lines

Crisis Text Line:  send “MHA” to 741741 to access Mental Health America’s 24/7 free text line and connect with trained crisis counselors.

HERO Warm Line for First Responders: dial 844-833-4376 from 8 a.m. to midnight ET daily to speak with fellow first responders who are trained to offer peer support and an empathetic ear.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: dial 800-273-8255 anytime to receive free and confidential support or prevention and crisis resources.

Project Return Peer Support Network: dial 888-448-9777 for English or 800-448-4055 for Spanish, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. PT Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. PT Saturday, to connect with this warm line for people who are coping with mental health concerns and who need a peer to talk to while traditional services are closed.

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This article is for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health condition or crisis, contact a mental health professional.

Are you interested in supporting people through mental and emotional challenges? Learn how to become a mental health counselor.

Maintaining mental health is important and seeking help can be necessary to stay healthy. In this article, OnlineCounselingPrograms.com has assembled a variety of mental health-focused content and resources to support young people of color.

Jump to:

Organizations | Therapy Directories | Hotlines and Support Groups | Digital Resources | Short Films and Videos | Apps | Instagram Accounts

Lee Thompson Young Foundation: an advocacy organization focused on holistic health treatments for mental illness and mental health literacy. The organization has a youth mental health first aid program dedicated to adolescent mental health and substance use.

National Black Child Development Institute:  a national organization dedicated to the well-being of Black children that works with leaders and policymakers on issues such as education, health and health care accessibility.

Life is Precious:  a suicide prevention program for Latinx girls that provides academic support, art therapies, and mental health and wellness activities.

Aakoma Project:  a nonprofit that advances the mental health needs of adolescents of color and their families, raising awareness about mental health stigmas, and facilitating conversations about mental illness.

Asian Mental Health Collective:  an organization helping to normalize and make mental health care more accessible for the Asian community, where a lot of mental health struggles are often invalidated or unaddressed.

Concerned Black Men of America:  an organization connecting children of color to mental health resources and role models. The organization has parent-focused programs on career development and adult literacy.

Loveland Foundation: an organization focused on the mental health and well-being of Black women and girls. It provides collaborative opportunities and initiatives for healing and empowerment, such as therapy funds, fellowships and listening tours.

Black Girls Smile: an organization focused on the mental wellness of Black females that encourages positive mental health education. It offers mental health awareness workshops for different age groups and promotes accessibility to therapists of color for Black women and girls.

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: a nonprofit founded by Taraji P. Henson that advances the mental health needs of Black communities. The organization offers scholarships to Black students seeking careers in the mental health field, delivers mental health services and programs to students in urban schools, and spreads awareness about mental health wellness.

Circles of Care: a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) three-year grant program geared toward American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It helps children with severe emotional disturbances and their families obtain funding for tribal communities to improve youth mental health and provide a community-based support system.

Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute: a national organization that advocates for and promotes the mental well-being of Native American youth through community-driven solutions with an emphasis on preventing youth suicide. The organization specializes in youth engagement and leadership development, resource exchanges, and policy advocacy.

Reclaim: an organization dedicated to making mental health support and care more accessible and culturally competent for queer and trans youth ages 12-16.

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Black Mental Health Alliance:  a community organization dedicated to developing culturally relevant education services that support the mental health of Black communities.

Latinx Therapy:   an online directory of therapists for Latinx people.

Therapy for Black Girls: a directory of therapists for Black girls, which includes a podcast and blog posts by Joy Harden Bradford to make mental health topics more approachable and accessible.

Inclusive Therapists: a therapist directory with a focus on inclusiveness.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: a healing justice organization that makes mental health resources more accessible to queer people of color.

Therapy for Latinx:  a therapist directory of Latinx therapists that allows users to search for specializations.

Latinx Therapy:  a national directory of Latinx therapists that also includes access to cultural workshops, courses and wellness resources.

We R Native:  a collection of mental health resources for Native American youth about issues such as depression, stress and mood improvement.

Black Virtual Therapist Directory:  an online directory for virtual Black therapists, doulas, yoga teachers, and mediators committed to emotional healing for Black communities.

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective: an affordable therapist directory that takes into account financial need.

Melanin and Mental Health: a therapist directory for Black communities that includes podcasts about what it’s like to go to therapy.

Ayana Therapy: online mental health therapy for marginalized and intersectional communities that matches users with a licensed professional to chat with.

South Asian Therapist Network: the largest global directory of South Asian therapists that’s culturally sensitive and culturally competent.

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DeQH:  a hotline for Desi LGBTQ for South Asians. Call 908-367-3374.

The Steve Fund: crisis support for young people of color. Text STEVE to 741741 to access a culturally trained crisis text line counselor.

Asian LifeNet:   a 24-hour hotline available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean & Fujianese. Call 877-990-8585.

Young People of Color @ 7cups: an online support community for young people of color. It includes daily check-ins, celebrations, icebreakers and Q&As.

Ok2Talk:  a moderated online community platform by the National Alliance on Mental Illness for teens to anonymously express their experiences of mental illness, recovery, or struggle. Posters can share stories, poems, quotes, lyrics and messages of support and hope.

WhatWorks4U:  a mental health network for young people and parents of young people exchanging ideas on what works for treatment and care for their mental health issues.

Teen Tribe: a social support group for teens who are dealing with mental health struggles and/or difficult family dynamics.

LiveWell Teens:  free weekly mental wellness, depression, and anxiety peer support groups led by experts and educators to help teens ages 14-18 manage stress.

The Boys Town ​National Hotline:  a 24/7 year-round hotline accredited by the American Association of Suicidology. It is for at-risk youth to reach out and discuss issues they are experiencing such as anger, depression and bullying. Call 800-448-3000.

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Ourselves Black:  a site with podcasts, an online magazine, and a blog that share stories related to mental health rooted in communities of color.

Grit X:  a platform for young adults and adolescents to reflect on their well-being that includes self-guided questions about mental health through journaling and art.

MannMukti:  a storytelling platform dedicated to reducing stigma related to mental health in the South Asian community.

The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds: an educational resource at the Massachusetts General Hospital that supports the mental health of children and adolescents. It features easy-to-understand blogs, podcasts, and videos.

Rest for Resistance:  a mental health healing space for queer people of color that includes stories and poems of survival, resistance, and struggles in mental health.

What To Do When Your (South Asian) Parents Don’t Understand Your Mental Health:  a first-person account of what it’s like to have depression as a South Asian person where the culture is not always understanding about mental health.

African Americans With Anxiety: How to Overcome Unique Obstacles: an article about how Black people can talk to a doctor about mental health and mental illness.

How Adults Can Support the Mental Health of Black Children:  a psychologist explains how adults can support the mental health of Black children in the context of racial stress and trauma.

How I’m Normalizing Mental Health For My Black Children: a first-person account of a parent of Black children who seeks to create a cultural norm where seeking mental health help is destigmatized.

What Their Writing Told Me: The Taboo Of Mental Illness In The Hispanic Community:  a blog post featuring Latinx children writing about hardships that offers insight into how mental illness is regarded in the Hispanic community.

MyleMarks Free Mental Health Worksheets:  a series of worksheets (downloadable in PDF form) for kids and teens to explore their feelings on mental health issues. Setting boundaries, establishing goals and needs, and creating coping mechanisms are some examples.

18 Self-Esteem Worksheets and Activities for Teens and Adults: worksheets on self-confidence, affirmations, and gratitude for young people to help them reflect on their emotions and build their mental health wellness.

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Easy Anxiety : a short film about a Black girl’s personal journey in mental health, anxiety, and self-love.

The Kids Are Not Alright: The Mental Health Crisis Affecting Latina Teens:  a documentary from Vice exploring how Latinx adolescent girls have disproportionately high rates of mental health struggles and suicide attempts.

We All Have Mental Health:  an animation video for young people (ages 11-14) discussing mental health struggles and care.

Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation: an animation video about mindfulness and well-being for young people.

You Are Not Alone: PBS videos on youth mental health, exploring depression, anxiety and stress for kids and teens.

Teen Affirmations For Living Your Best Life and Feeling Great: a five-minute video produced by SuccessfulBlackParenting.com aimed at uplifting Black adolescents through affirmations and advice.

Break the Stigma:  an animated video for young people by the Children’s Hospital Colorado about why it’s important to fight the stigma of mental illness.

More than a Moment – A Conversation with BIPOC Student Mental Health Leaders: an hour-long videoconference by Active Minds featuring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) teens and young adults who aim to raise awareness of mental health issues in their communities.

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The Safe Place: a minority mental health app raising awareness on mental health in the Black community. Featuring inspirational quotes and statistics, it can also be a learning tool for mental health professionals working with people of color.

Liberate:   a meditation app for communities of color that includes guided meditations and talks designed for the BIPOC experience.

Dreamy Kid: a kids’ mental health and wellness app that features everyday meditations, affirmations, issue-based meditation (such as confidence-building, eating healthy, ADHD, or anger management, etc), and bedtime stories.

SuperBetter:  an emotional wellness game for children and teens to build resilience, motivation and positivity in the face of adversity.

Headspace Meditation for Kids:  meditation with customized sessions by age groups for calmness, focus, kindness and sleep.

Calm Counter:an app that helps kids calm down from emotions, especially those with autism. It is a visual and audio tool telling stories about anger and how to calm down. It opens up to an “I need a break” screen when tapped.

Stop, Breathe & Think Kids:  meditation app for kids focused on sleep, calmness, breathing exercises and conflict resolution.

Emotionary:  an interactive dictionary app guiding children through their emotions to find the right one for what they are feeling.

MindShift: an app to help children and teens manage anxiety and think more effectively.

Happify: an app with games to help young people overcome negative thoughts.

UNITY Wellness Warrior:  a culturally competent, interactive wellness app for Native American people to track their mental well-being and live healthier lives.

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Instagram is a great social tool for young people, where they can follow accounts of mental health educators, therapists of color, and other content creators. Many of these accounts post bite-sized, colorfully designed and digestible posts about supporting mental health or quotes about holistic healing, setting boundaries, and affirmations. Focuses range from racial trauma to body positivity. They are aimed at a variety of age groups, but primarily young people.

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Information on OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified professionals with any questions you may have regarding mental health issues.

Do you have a passion for helping young people navigate challenges related to mental health? Learn more about how to become a mental health counselor.

Information on OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified professionals with any questions you may have about medical or health-related issues.

COVID-19 & pregnancy: What you need to know:  helpful videos and Kaiser Permanente’s answers to frequently asked questions about the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and coping with COVID-19 as a new parent.

COVID-19 and pregnancy:  information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about how to protect parents and children from COVID-19, how to seek health care during pregnancy, and how to care for newborns in the hospital with social isolation restrictions.

Carriage House Birth:  educational online prenatal, birth, and postpartum classes for new moms.

Evidence-Based Birth: Birthing in the Time of COVID-19:  free classes on YouTube that take expecting parents through each stage of labor.

What are the rules and recommendations for wearing a face mask during delivery?:  an article about health-related concerns on wearing a face mask during different stages of labor.

Getting pregnant during the pandemic: COVID-19, Pregnancy, and Fertility: frequently asked questions on topics such as the risk of pregnancy and COVID-19, protecting newborns from the virus, and fertility treatment during the pandemic.

5 Things You Can Do For Your Fertility During the Pandemic: a Parents magazine article about caring for your reproductive health and pregnancy planning during the pandemic.

March of Dimes: an organization for maternal health offering free support services for expecting and new moms during the pandemic.

Pregnant During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Your Questions Answered Here: an OBGYN answers questions in a 20-minute podcast about pregnancy during the pandemic.

Birth Day Presence:   virtual prenatal classes on maternal issues such as breastfeeding preparation, infant safety, labor coping, and postpartum information.

Coronavirus During Pregnancy:  an article from the American Pregnancy Association about how to seek care for and protection from COVID-19 during pregnancy.

Parenting 101, Pregnancy and COVID-19:  a series of episodes by health experts about supporting expecting mothers and showing them what to expect during labor.

What Coronavirus Means for Pregnancy, and Other Things New and Expecting Mothers Should Know:  an article about how to seek health care for pregnancy safely, whether to start or continue fertility treatments during the pandemic and what to do if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while pregnant.

What To Expect When Expecting In A Pandemic: a podcast episode from NPR about the reality of expecting a child during the pandemic and how to care for your infant’s health.

Everything You Need to Know About Pregnancy and Birth in the Age of COVID-19 an article published in Parents magazine featuring personal accounts from new parents experiencing the new normal of birth during the pandemic, covering topics such as early discharges from the hospital and the use of telemedicine to screen for postpartum depression.

Information for New and Expecting Parents Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic: an article about being pregnant and concerned about COVID-19 and giving birth during the pandemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) guide for parents: UNICEF tips for families on how to maintain wellness, talk to your kids about coronavirus, and protect your child’s health.

Parenting children with special needs during COVID-19: a Mayo Clinic resource dedicated to parents of children with special needs or chronic conditions that includes advice on how to manage stress and seek care during the pandemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Caring for Kids With Special Health Needs:  an FAQ from KidsHealth about seeking health care for children with special needs during the pandemic, exploring questions such as whether to allow health care providers to come to the house.

Stresses of Being a New Parent During the COVID-19 Era:  a questionnaire from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital about whether babies should wear masks or visit family members and how to take care of children if they are experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Single Parenting During the Coronavirus Crisis: strategies by the Child Mind Institute about coping with single parenthood and stress during the pandemic.

Quarantined With a Newborn, Alone: a first-person narrative in The New York Times about a new mother spending maternity leave in a pandemic and how she has cared for her newborn during different stages of quarantine.

The Deep Loneliness of Having a Baby in a Pandemic: a Self magazine article about the reality new parents are facing during the pandemic, touching on topics such as social isolation, hospital lockdowns, and lack of family members allowed in the labor room.

Self-Care for New and Expectant Mothers in the Pandemic: an article in Psychology Today about self-care for new moms that focuses on their nutrition, exercise, sleep, and social support.

How New Moms Can Practice Emotional Self-Care During the Pandemic:  a list of tips by a health expert on how to practice self-care as a new mom during the pandemic and how to seek support from others.

Long Creations: a free 15-page PDF visual journal designed for new moms to document their pregnancy/motherhood experience during the pandemic.

Giving Birth During a Pandemic: a checklist created by Mindful Mamas to plan for labor during a pandemic and stay positive through bouts of loneliness.

PopSugar Fitness Youtube Channel:  videos about fitness for pregnant women.

Maternal Mental Health Now: Emotional Wellness Self-Help Tool:  an educational app for women who are thinking about having a baby, are pregnant, or have given birth that helps them take care of the emotional demands and transition into parenthood smoothly.

Maternal Mental Health During The Coronavirus Pandemic:  tips from Mental Health America about what pregnant women can do if they are experiencing depression and anxiety, and how to recover from a maternal mental health condition.

National Parent Helpline:  a hotline offering emotional support and resources to parents and caregivers of children. It includes a resource section for fathers and Spanish language options. Call 1-855-427-2736.

Mocha Moms:a virtual support group for mothers of color that provides a safe space to discuss the different stages of motherhood.

Blossoming Mothers:  an online support group for moms moderated by a professional motherhood counselor.

Peanut: an app similar to Tinder for new moms who are socially distanced and want to meet other local new moms.

Social Mama:an app that connects moms at every stage of parenthood with other moms and motherhood experts.

Social.Mom:  a social network for new moms with virtual meetups.

The ‘COVID-19 Baby’ Parents Group: a Facebook group for new parents on how to support each other during difficult times of the pandemic.

Coronavirus Parents: Parenting in a Pandemic: another Facebook group for new parents, but focused on issues such as social isolation and school closure updates.

Virtual Doula Directory: a spreadsheet of labor doulas and childbirth educators organized by geographical location with contact info.

The Motherhood Center of New York: an organization supporting new moms with support groups for expectant and working moms, dads and partners, as well as those who have experienced miscarriages.

How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower: an article published on Babylist with advice and resources for new parents and their friends and families on how to virtually host a baby shower, including creative theme ideas and technology tips.

COVID-19 Has Taken Away the Village: How New Parents Can Cope:  Healthline tips for friends and family on how to support new parents and share the load of caring for a newborn with others, including partners.

MealTrain:  a service with an interactive calendar for friends and families that helps them organize delivering meals and/or groceries for someone after a birth.

13 Ways to Help New Moms During Social Distancing: a list of tips on how to support new moms during social isolation.

5 Ways to Help a New Parent Living in Isolation:  tips for new parents and families of new parents to help them adjust to parenthood during social isolation and provide support in healthy, socially distanced ways.

Newborns, Visitors and COVID-19: When can I hold your baby?:  guidelines from the South Boston Community Health Center to help families make decisions such as whether or not they will allow grandparents and other family members to hold the newborn and how to safely determine the risks involved.

Are you interested in pursuing an education in counseling, but need flexibility when pursuing a master’s degree? Learn more about what an online master’s in marriage and family therapy can offer.

While one’s college years are often thought of as fun and carefree, they’re sometimes far from it. Many of today’s college students feel immense pressure in multiple areas of their lives,  including the academic, financial, social and family arenas. This pressure can lead to a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression and stress and can seriously affect a student’s ability to function. 

The Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Pennsylvania State University reports that there was a 54.4% increase in college students who sought out mental health counseling in 2018.  Among their chief concerns, anxiety and depression topped the list.

One in five Americans over the age of 18 is affected by mental illness (PDF, 500 KB).  College students are not exempt; in fact, they’re reporting mental illnesses at an increasing rate each year, according to a 2019 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Go to a tabular version of The Rise of Mental Illness Among College Students.

There are distinct reasons why reports of mental illness such as anxiety, depression and stress among college students grow each year. A 2019 report from the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (PDF, 1.2 MB) indicates that each of these mental health challenges has a variety of contributing factors, including academic pressure, finances and personal relationships.

Go to a tabular version of Challenges Affecting College Students’ Mental Health.

The factors affecting a student’s well-being are broad and varied, but they’re also co-occurring. Of those surveyed, 64% of the students reported experiencing three or more of the challenges listed in the assessment.

Social and environmental factors can be exacerbated by other determinants like socioeconomic status. For college students who aren’t financially well-off, mental health challenges can be further compounded by the pressure of student debt and the challenges of working multiple jobs while completing school work.

Sleep, nutrition and other behaviors can also affect mental health, especially when a student’s routines are shaped by the structure of class schedules, work-life balance and academic stress. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, poor sleep patterns often develop in college  and may lead to a variety of problems including lower GPA and poorer performance in the classroom, which can worsen stress or anxiety. 

Mental health counselors can discuss positive sleep habits with college students and encourage those with anxiety, depression or high stress to create healthier sleeping patterns.

Many college students have recently moved away from home and are learning to independently manage their own health and well-being for the first time. Understanding what services are available, where to find help and whether insurance covers visits can be complicated and overwhelming. 

At most colleges and universities, mental health counselors are available through campus health services and are prepared to serve students, answer common questions and provide quality care. 

Some students may wonder, “Do I really need to see a professional?” Counselors can help even in seemingly small situations. A more helpful question might be: “How can I benefit from seeing a professional?” 

Before seeking mental health care from a professional, it’s helpful to know what to expect. A mental health counselor can help students with:

A counselor can be a trusted source of information, advice and assistance with a variety of problems. They can’t, however, make problems disappear, make decisions for their clients or tell them how to behave. 

Knowing when it’s time to seek a counselor depends on the individual student. It can be helpful to take a personal inventory of feelings, thought patterns and coping mechanisms that might be disrupting daily life and relationships. 

Though colleges and universities are committed to serving their student populations, STAT reported that the demand for mental health services at colleges has often been higher than the supply of counselors.  With the steady increase in college students seeking services, many college and university mental health counseling centers can’t keep up. Faced with long waitlists and closed campuses, some college students are turning to virtual counseling or traveling across state lines,  though neither are guaranteed coverage by university health insurance policies.

Colleges are aware of the rise in student mental health concerns and are working to address the influx. According to Forbes, students seeking counseling treatment increased between 30% to 40%, and rapid access resources from counseling centers increased by 28%.

Even though there has been an increase in college students seeking mental health services, it doesn’t mean that all students who need mental health treatment are being served appropriately.

Many students aren’t aware of the services available to them on campus or may be limited in their ability to access them. Additionally, it may be a student’s first time asking for help. Making mental health care resources approachable and affirming for students of all identities is crucial to encouraging students to seek them out. 

Colleges and universities can implement a number of changes to improve the services for students, including:

All of these strategies can help schools identify students who may be struggling and create a caring and safe campus culture. 

If a therapist or counselor is out of reach for logistical, financial or other reasons, students can build a self-care toolkit that helps them manage their mental health and well-being independently. 

Self-care is “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health  and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health care provider,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Strategies for Self-Care on a Budget

Cleanse your social media.  Take a look at the accounts you follow on social media, and unfollow the ones that regularly contribute to feelings of stress, envy, anxiety or inferiority. 

Write a memo to yourself for bad days.  A reminder of your self-worth from the person who knows you best is something you can revisit at any time. 

Identify what’s working.  Take an inventory of the people, places and activities that make you feel safe, understood and at peace. Make a list on your phone or in a notebook that’s easy to access, and refer to it on days that you feel anxious or depressed and need a place to start. 

Ask a trusted friend or family member to be on-call.  Regularly sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone who is both a confidante and an advocate for your well-being can help in the case of an emergency, or even just a bad day.

Set routines for nutrition, rest and exercise.  Making a plan—even for a few days at a time—can make the energy and effort required to take care of your body less intimidating when you’re feeling drained or having trouble making decisions.

Leverage technology for a better night’s sleep.  Setting a screen time limit or recurring downtime on your phone or other devices can reduce notifications that interrupt sleep and make it easier to go to bed on time.

Join an online support group.  When accessing an in-person provider isn’t possible, reaching out to a virtual group with similar experiences can lead to a network of easy-to-access advice and meaningful support.

Save emergency phone numbers.  Make a list of campus health emergency hotlines, including 988, which is the shortcut for mental health emergencies as an alternative to dialing 911. 

Self-care looks different for everyone.  Talk to a licensed professional to make an informed, individualized mental health care treatment plan that works for you.

Information on OnlineCounselingPrograms.com is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified professionals with any questions you may have regarding mental health issues.

Do you have a passion for helping college students navigate these important transitions? Learn more about how to become a mental health counselor and how to become a college counselor.

Back-to-school anxiety is not so unusual.

“Normally, kids are really excited,” said Laura Jones, an elementary school counselor in Frederick County, Maryland. “Yes, there’s some anxiety, but a lot of it’s good anxiety. They missed their friends over the summer. They’re excited to meet their new teacher and to be part of that class, that community once again.”

But life is unusual during a pandemic, which has increased back-to-school anxiety in children and adults. Depending on their circumstances, that good anxiety, that excitement, may not happen for all students this year.

“Uncertainties can bring anxiety and ratchet it up to the next level,” said Jones, who also is president of the Maryland School Counselors Association.

Adults should avoid adding to children’s anxiety about school. When parents, caregivers and teachers express negative emotions, such as anger and frustration, that can affect kids.

“It’s so important for parents and educators to stay positive so that our kids and students can be positive as well,“ said Alisha Kowsky, a lower school counselor in the Charleston, S.C., area.

“The more we talk about [our frustrations] in front of them, the more we share our personal opinions, the more we might affect them in their anxiety,” Kowsky said. “Not that we shouldn’t share what’s going on. We should do so in an appropriate way where we’re talking to our kids, not where they’re hearing us voice different opinions.”

“It’s so important for parents and educators to stay positive so that our kids and students can be positive as well.”

All adults—parents, teachers, school counselors and school administrators—want what is best for children so compassion is critical because a pandemic changes everything. Everyone is juggling different scenarios.

Former elementary school counselor Rebecca Atkins is the co-author of “Interrupting Racism: Equity and Social Justice in School Counseling” and writes a blog called Counselor Up! She said schools will have to change gears, whether a particular school district plans to use fully remote learning or a hybrid system. “There’s going to be new rules and new expectations,” said Atkins.

“Just be prepared knowing that everybody’s going to be in a different space, and then, nobody is in the same space they were,” said Atkins, who now works in the central office of a large North Carolina school district supporting other school counselors.

Learning from home has had its advantages for some students. Children who have some social anxiety and have become used to communicating via messages and chats might be more nervous about the prospect of returning to a classroom setting, Atkins said.

Whether it’s related to moving to a new school or missing an older sibling who’s graduated, “anxiety looks similar regardless of the source,” Atkins said.

School counselors describe what to look for in children:

If a child’s anxiety prevents them from functioning, it is time to get help from professional counselors. “Anxiety is a natural part of life,” Atkins said, “and so when it becomes something that is impeding your natural life, that you can no longer be that participating student, or a part of the family dynamic, that’s when you might seek some additional help.”

TIPS TO HELP COPE WITH BACK-TO-SCHOOL ANXIETY

For Children

For Parents

For School Staff

Parents should learn when and how to help a child with anxiety about school.

“It’s fine for your child to be nervous, that’s normal,” Atkins said. “It’s fine for your child to have questions about how things are going to go. You can help them by being proactive with that information.”

The very basic way to get the conversation started is to ask children how they are feeling about going back to school. When school starts, ask them about their first day.

Adults can help children cope with back-to-school anxiety by doing these things:

• Communicate openly and honestly. Encourage children to express themselves and their fears so adults know what is going on and whether their anxiety is escalating.
• Teach them mindfulness exercises. Use methods such as “Five Fingers” or the “5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique.” Ask children to identify: 5 things they can see, 4 things they can hear, 3 things they can touch, 2 things they can smell, 1 thing they can taste.
• Urge them to focus on their breathing. Use the act of breathing as a mindfulness exercise where the child focuses on the action itself to raise awareness of their body’s movements and physical feelings.
• Acknowledge the child’s emotions and help them strategize. Tell children that you understand they are afraid, frustrated or angry and work with them to devise a plan to use a mindfulness exercise or other distractions to help.

Parents do need to be cautious about overreacting, Atkins warns. “We’re very uncomfortable with negative feelings.” Children need to learn to process negative feelings and move on. By doing so, they learn that they don’t have to let smaller problems affect them so dramatically. “So, allow some feelings, but be there as a support,” she said.

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Parents have a great influence on their children.

“If we are anxious and overwhelmed and negative, then they’re going to feed off of that,” Kowsky said. “I’m not saying to hide our feelings, but I think that there is a certain amount that we can say to our children without influencing or allowing them to feed off of our feelings.”

Here are things that parents can do to cope with back-to-school anxiety:

• Manage your own anxiety. Use calming mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises.
• Know when to shut off news feeds. Avoid information overload that can be stressful.
• Ask questions of school staff. Learn all you can from the school to avoid surprises.
• Set work boundaries. Try to prevent work from affecting family and personal time.
• Acknowledge everyone’s feelings. Discuss what you and your children are feeling.

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Back-to-school anxiety exists for teachers, counselors and other staff, too. Being able to take the time to re-establish supportive connections is important, Atkins said. They are all dealing with the same back-to-school situation.

Here are things that teachers, counselors and other school staff can do to cope with back-to-school anxiety:

• Practice self-care. Set aside time for long walks, reading and other activities.
• Follow safety guidelines. To be comfortable in your environment, take precautions.
• Keep up with developments. Attend seminars and join group chats to stay informed.
• Reach out. Socialize with colleagues over coffee or during lunch at a distance or online.
• Make your circle count. Be selective, making sure that connections are helpful.

Children will be able to relate when they see adults dealing with their own anxiety at home and in school.

“We have to be that model for our kids,” Jones said.

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Whether children are returning to school in a traditional classroom, online or a hybrid situation, there are resources available to help ease the back-to-school anxieties they feel as well as those that their parents and school staff might be feeling.