Page 58 - Healthcare News July-August 2020

Stress
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A Child’s Perspective
As adults work on their stress and anxiety, they are often doing so
in front of their children, who are stuck at home, too.
“Kids are amazingly resilient
as long as parents aren’t losing it themselves,” Campbell said, adding that it’s essential for parents to be aware of their stress and anxiety and moderate it for their children. “I tell parents all the time, their kids will be fine if parents offer reassurance and give them con- fidence that we’ll all get through this.”
An added stressor for many parents is suddenly becoming their children’s teacher. It’s not uncom- mon for children of different ages in the same household to have very different school settings, a daunting challenge that parents feel ill-equipped to handle. Ken- dall said parents she speaks with feel pressure about their children’s performance in school, as well as responsible — or even guilty — if it doesn’t meet expectations.
“We try to remind people, ‘your kids are safe, you are safe, and you’re doing the best you can.’”
An additional stressor for parents has cropped up recently in the pub- lic discussion about whether or not to reopen schools. Parents want to make the most informed decision in the moment, but Kendall said that’s tough when trying to plan something several weeks out.
“We are advising families and children to take any information
Fall
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Sticking with the Plan
Developing the right strategy for its student population has been a daunting challenge for each area college, to say the least.
“I know faculty have been working all sum- mer, when it would normally be their down- time, working on individual programs to keep students moving forward in their educational experiences as much as possible,” Rousseau said.
“We’ve had some challenges in field work and clinical placements, because healthcare has not able to bring students in,” she went on, “but that’s gradually improving as time goes on, and we’re hoping that continues, and there are no further outbreaks or restrictions. That was a big
they receive lightly,” she added, “because it could change several times between now and Septem- ber.”
Understanding what’s best for each child can be a process of trial and error. Favorite said one key to bringing stability to a child’s life is structure and routine. She and her staff use something called solution- focused brief therapy.
“The short version of this is, if something’s working, do more of it. If something is not working, try something else,” she explained,
nesses are doing this too, such as distilleries making hand sanitizer and restaurants offering takeout when they never did before.”
Flexibility also means finding new ways to connect with people. Favorite noted that people are find- ing creative ways to follow safety guidelines and still interact. From biking or walking while wearing masks to cocktails with co-workers over Zoom, she said social distanc- ing does not mean social avoid- ance.
“It might look and feel a little un-
This is also an opportunity to reassess what Kendall calls our “drive-thru culture.”
“We’re acclimated to doing things and moving along quickly so we can always be productive,” she said. “COVID-19 has put a huge pause on things because you can’t be as productive at work if you’re also trying to educate your kids.”
She added that this may be the time for a new definition of pro- ductivity. “Maybe being productive means getting to know my kids better because I’m around them more.”
Five months into dealing with COVID-19, Campbell suggested that now might be a good time for those who are struggling to engage with a mental-health professional. “For some people, seeking help still carries a stigma, but that’s removed with telehealth because it’s as simple as speaking with someone over the phone or online.”
Favorite reflected that point by referencing a famous quote from Fred Rogers, who said that, as a young boy, he would see scary things in the news, and his mother would tell him, “look for the help- ers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Brock’s clients have been shar- ing their fears and wondering if and when the COVID-19 times will end and what the new normal will look like. “I suspect that things will come back around, and we’re going to find that our new normal isn’t
as terrifying as we’re making it out to be.”
In the meantime, as the new normal brings new fears, Mr. Rog- ers’ advice still applies: look for the helpers. v
“
I suspect that things will come back around, and we’re going to find that our new normal isn’t as terrifying as we’re making it out to be.”
adding that this technique is worth the effort because, when a child’s emotions are well-managed, it’s easier for parents to focus on the day-to-day needs of the family.
Favorite said the technique also works for adults when their mental health begins to suffer from con- suming too much news. “We advise people to only check the news
once a day, or once a week,” she said. “Or only check the news after someone else has reviewed it so you have someone to talk to about it.”
Another key to navigating these times is the ability to be flexible, Campbell said, adding that those willing to try new things will often fare much better than those who are rigid or set in their ways.
“We’re all reinventing ourselves five times a day,” she said. “Busi-
usual, but I would argue that social encounters are still available, just in a different way.”
Helping Hand
During COVID-19, people are out of their old routines, and Brock sees that as a rare opportunity. Through the CONCERN EAP, she and her staff teach people basic skills for how to manage their anxiety in
the moment, as well as encourag- ing them to shift their thoughts to things that matter most.
“If family is important to you, then now is the time to make those relationships really rich,” she said. “It’s a chance to look at your life and say, ‘what do I want to be dif- ferent?’ — then hunker down and focus on that rather than the things we can’t control.”
challenge for our program and for many pro- grams across the country.”
After all, Hixon added, “there are some spec- tacular virtual simulations, but it’s just not the same. We really want students to get a chance to interact with a real person.”
Her students are excited to do so, she added, and enrollment has been solid in WSU’s health programs. “Students entering as undergrads want to get in — they want to become helpers in this terrible pandemic. It’s so impressive to see someone 17 or 18 years old who’s ready to jump in. There’s a pride that’s developed in these healthcare careers.”
And students understand, Rousseau said, that they’ve chosen a field where it’s impossible to be totally safe, even as educators strive to create as safe a learning environment as possible.
“We’re educating future healthcare providers who will be working with clients in the field,”
she told HCN. “Things like COVID are reality within healthcare. It’s certainly not something I’ve experienced in my career, but certainly, the idea of outbreaks of illness is. And we still need to provide care to people.”
Rousseau said the pandemic has certainly drawn attention to what essential healthcare workers do for the public, while advancing new modes of care delivery, like telehealth, and rais- ing the profile of public health as a profession.
“What we think about in relation to health- care and how it’s delivered is evolving,” she said. “This is a time for creative ideas and innovation, and that will only continue.”
Those trends will only be boosted by an influx of new providers graduating from colleges and universities. The challenge is training up those students — up close when necessary — at a time when communicating from a distance is still largely the order of the day. v
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