Articles & Resources: Stress & Coping In Uncertain Times
In the year and a half leading up to March 3, 2003, many tragic national, international, and local events have followed. Finding hope and strength in the aftermath of the slew of tragic events is vital to all of us within our UCSF community. The range of emotional reactions one may experience can include, shock, sadness, anger, disbelief, and transient feelings of helplessness and anxiety. Whether one promotes more peaceful resolutions or in contrast believe military action is the only solution to reduce conflicts, one cannot deny that many of the experiences over the past few years alone have affected our mental and physical health in some way. At the same time, local issues such as budget deficits may also impact our feelings of uneasiness. As we all move through the series of troubling events, many of us may have witnessed our resiliency diminish to some extent as stress levels appear to increase, only to continue to focus on the reality of the future and living in uncertain times.
FSAP has compiled a list of resources below that you may find of assistance with supportive services and effective coping strategies during these uncertain global times. UCSF faculty and staff may also seek individual and confidential professional counseling and support by calling FSAP directly at (415) 476-8279, by email at .
ARTICLES
MANAGING OURSELVES DURING DIFFICULT GLOBAL TIMES, Brian S. Andres, PsyD, UCSF Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP)
MANAGING OURSELVES THROUGH TROUBLED TIMES, Bonnie McKenzie, IPS Worldwide Employee Assistance
http://www.eap.com.au
COPING WITH UNCERTAINTY: A 4-STEP PLAN, Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
LIVING YOUR LIFE DURING TERORRIST THREATS AND OTHER CHALLENDING TIMES, National Mental Health Association
http://www.nmha.org
TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT TERRORISM AND WAR, American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org
FEELING SECURE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD, Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
HELPING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS COPE WITH VIOLENCE AND DISASTERS, National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES: MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE, The National Partnership for Workplace Mental Health
http://www.workplacementalhealth.org
MANAGING TRAUMATIC STRESS: TIPS FOR RECOVERING FROM DISASTERS AND OTHER TRAUMATIC EVENTS, American Psychological Association
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/disability.html
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
UCSF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - Counseling for UCSF students only: (415) 476-1281
UCSF CHILD & ELDER CARE CONSULATION & REFERRAL SERVICE - A variety of services children and elders: (415) 502-7696
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION - The APA has posted links and resources for services and resources for coping and stress at http://www.apa.org/psychnet/coverage.html.
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS - has several brochures and many resources on a variety of disaster and trauma relief. http://www.redcross.org [Available in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, & Vietnamese)
CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES- "After Disaster: What Teens Can Do" http://www.mentalhealth.org/
WWW.TRAUMA-PAGES.COM - This website offers a compendium of links for information and support relative services to cope with a variety of issues related to disasters
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION - They have posted a list of resources and media advisories on their home page, which can be found at http://www.psych.org
HELP TALKING WITH CHILDREN - Parent Center and the National Mental Health and Education Center offer parents advice on talking with children about the terrorist attack at: http://www.parentcenter.com/refcap/parenting/raising/34843.html
TIPS FOR TEACHING TOLERANCE - The National Association of School Psychologists has made available a useful paper entitled "Promoting Tolerance and Peace in Children - Tips for Parents and Schools", which can be found at: http://www.nasponline.org/neat/tolerance.html
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH - NIMH has compiled a list of resources and articles to for helping cope and appropriately respond to the events of September 11, which can be found online at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/nimhhome/index.cfm. (Please note: this site is currently experiencing a very high volume and you may need to try repeatedly.)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS - NASW offers of variety of reading and referral resources. http://www.naswdc.org/
TO MAKE DONATIONS FOR RELIEF EFFORTS
AMERICAN RED CROSS- For blood or cash donations: Call 1-(800) HELP-NOW or visit SALVATION ARMY- For cash donations: Call 1-(800) SAL-ARMY or visit http://www.redshield.org/crisis