By: Jordan Hasty, Staff Writer
During the former school years, Wellness Counselors and Leadership groups have held events pertaining to mental health to aid the students in becoming more aware of mental health, and have given ways to deal with the psychological hardships they may be enduring. In accordance to these past events, Wellness Counselors Laura Hahn, Staysha Veal, and Lisa Windes are hosting a stress support group to teach students the science behind stress and how to manage it, as well as a peer discussion group called “Breaking the Ice” to guide students in conversations to cope through the emotional strains Coronavirus pandemic has inflicted. Stress has become a common theme in the daily lives of high school students during the 2020 school year as both their lives and education have shifted due to the impact of COVID-19. For the freshman class, virtual learning is far from the typical high school experience, and heightens the difficulty of learning new curriculum. Ultimately—feeling stuck and worried, stress and uncertainty is inevitable amongst the underclassmen students. Amidst college applications, and various senior year plan cancellations, maintaining both positive and motivated has also posed a challenge for the upperclassmen. While each day during the ongoing Coronavirus era can present new challenges, the wellness counselors at Mills are determined to utilize the Zoom platform to encourage and assist the students who are feeling overwhelmed.
The Stress Support Group, led by Wellness counselor Lisa Windes, creates a safe virtual space for students to learn about stress, how to manage it, and express the strenuous emotions many have felt over the course of COVID-19. As most high school students have found themselves becoming more uncomfortable in social situations due to prolonged time spent at home, this support group serves as a great alternative to an in-person group—offering the option to use the chat box and ability to turn your camera off to build a more secure, pleasant environment. Group meetings consist of sharing YouTube videos, graphics, and other visuals to display the neuroscience behind stress—followed by a group discussion pertaining to what the group members prefer. The members are given a chance to share any experience they’re comfortable discussing, opening the opportunity for honesty, compassion, and insightfulness. Conversations as such allow for a powerful dynamic, where students can share their experiences with one another, learn that they are not alone in what they are going through, and get support from their fellow participants. The importance of having a listening ear, or simply having someone to talk to about the emotions you may be encountering often goes overlooked, group leader Lisa Windes agreeing, “I think it’s easy to forget how meaningful it is to feel heard and understood”. In accordance with these activities, Wellness also plans to teach different skills that students can use to help manage stress—whether it be on Zoom, at home, out in the community, and in-person at school. Though connecting through an electronic device is not the easiest obstacle to conquer, Wellness prioritizes helping students interact to achieve a connection, even if it may be through the screen. Windes emphasized this, stating that “right now we’re all doing our best to connect during the pandemic and I think a virtual group is a great way to do this”!
Leadership and Wellness came together and created “Breaking the Ice” as a peer support group, whose main purpose is to deter from the isolated, disconnected feeling which many students have run into, granting a chance to meet new people who may be undergoing similar emotions. “Breaking the Ice” consists of discussing topics pertaining to 2020, and what it has been like—opening a natural conversation. Topics range from major events such as Coronavirus and stay-at-home orders to personal interests like binge-worthy Netflix shows or current favorite games – each topic spoken in a positive light, bringing a lighter perspective into a seemingly dark time. Laura Hahn, Wellness Counselor and leader of “Breaking the Ice”, mentioned, “We’re going through a lot of the same stuff right now – it’s nice to have a place to talk about it” when explaining the ways students can benefit. While open discussion is highly encouraged, it is asked that the members remain respectful and mindful of questions or prompts that may be upsetting to some students. Ultimately, comfort is the utmost priority, ensuring students remain at ease. During the chats that are held, Peer Leaders are present and engaged to build a light-hearted and interactive space. The Peer Leaders are Leadership students, who either have an interest in mental health, or have undergone hardships alone, and want to support those who might be as well. They serve as one of the main components of this support group as they design, promote, and help lead the meetings, including the assistance of Wellness Counselors who remain present during meetings to moderate and offer a helping hand if needed. Through offering this peer-to-peer support, unexpected relationships begin to flourish. Opening up to others swings open the door of opportunity to discover similarities and interests amongst individuals who you may not have talked to initially. “You meet so many people that you wouldn’t typically hang out with if we were in person during school, and you grow connections with them”, Peer Leader Anna Skyriotis (11) added. In her experience, Skyriotis has built new friendships and grew more confidence, both boosting her mood and making her a better leader. Erin Crowley (11), a fellow Peer Leader, had similar feelings as she expressed, “I never want someone to feel like the way I did in the past — it felt like I didn’t have anyone. I know that having a friend or someone to talk to really does feel good and makes you feel better, and I want to provide that for others.” A lot of us may be going through similar things right now, but especially in times like this, loneliness heightens. The members of “Breaking the Ice” encourage anyone to join, as having a place to voice your feelings, or just a space to mix it up and meet new people is vital. Even in times of distance learning, building a connection is still possible.
Identifying and proactively addressing the challenges of student stress and anxiety is vital, especially during this time. At Mills, Wellness strives to provide the student body with the opportunities and pathways needed to effectively ensure their well-being and success. Having stress and feeling anxiety is normal, and no student should feel alone. If you, or someone that you know at Mills needs help managing stress – or could just use someone to talk to, it is highly encouraged to join one of these groups today. Sign-ups for the Stress Support Group and “Breaking the Ice” peer support group can be found at bit.ly/millsgroups. Each group meets every Wednesday, from 2:15-3:15pm via Zoom. After filling out the form, a counselor will be in touch to ensure that you know where to find the group and where to join it. For more ways to help navigate stress and your mental health, check out the Wellness Counseling page on Canvas at bit.ly/vikingwellness which includes community resources such as hotlines, video support, meditation opportunities, and more.
