Counselor Connection
November
Survivor of Suicide Event
Heating Assitance
Struggling to Stay Calm?
You know that feeling you get right before you are about to lose it? The whining, the bickering, the yelling…they build up until one day you can’t hold it in anymore, and finally explode.
I used to have so many of these moments. It felt all-consuming and exhausting each time.
Until one day I learned this powerful mindset shift that has allowed me to remain calm during many stressful parenting moments:
My emotions are separate from my child’s emotions.
Instead of joining your child’s emotional rollercoaster, practice taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that you can remain calm regardless of how angry or escalated your child is. And by doing that, you’re not disconnecting from your child, you are creating a mental space to be able to support them. Make a list of things ahead of time that can help you stay calm: washing your face with cold water, visualizing a peaceful place, or repeating a mantra.
There are plenty of techniques, and I recommend choosing something that’s always available to you.
Here’s a helpful guide to help you find your center the next time your child is acting out. The more you practice, the more intuitive they become and the faster your child will catch on.
Alexander, Big Life Journal
Turn Worry into Wonder
We recently moved to Greece, and although our boys are used to starting new experiences (we move a lot! ), my oldest was particularly worried about starting at his new school. "This is going to be hard." "What if I don't like my new teacher?" "I won't have anyone to play with."
My initial reaction was to say: "There's nothing to worry about."
But, I know that facing something new — even when it's a good thing — can be stressful. Plus, saying this can make him think he shouldn't feel the way he does. So I take a step back.
First, the idea here is to listen and show him I understand and accept his worries.
Second, I help him rephrase his worries and turn them into wonder. It sounds like this: “I see this feels hard for you. I wonder how many new friends you’ll meet tomorrow.” “I see this is new for you. I wonder what new skills you’ll learn.” I often use this powerful strategy to help him break the cycle of continuous worry and it works wonders - no pun intended!
Alexander, Founder of Big Life Journal
Safer Ohio School Tip Line
988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline
Bear Bags
Mental Health America
Our mental health is in constant flux and ebbs and flows on a daily basis. Many things can impact this including our physical health. The connection between our physical body and our mental health is important and may be something worth exploring when thinking about staying mentally healthy. Learn more about whole health and what you can do to improve your overall wellness by visiting Mental Health America.
For additional information on Mental Health America:
STOP!T APP
STOPit provides students with an easy app to safely and anonymously report anything of concern to school officials. STOPit empowers students to stand up for themselves and others while giving our school the insight we need to keep students safe. Students can report bullying/cyberbully, inappropriate student/teacher relationship, violence threat, hazing, weapons possession, drugs/alcohol, and substance abuse.
The BE Code to enter for the STOPit App is: BES004002
National Online Safety
The internet has transformed the ability to access content. Many apps that children use are dependent on user-generated content which can encourage freedom of expression, imagination and creativity. However, due to the sheer volume uploaded every day, it can be difficult for platforms to regulate and moderate everything, which means that disturbing or distressing images, videos or audio clips can slip through the net. That’s why we’ve created this guide to provide parents and caregivers with some useful tips on keeping children safe online. Visit the National Online Safety website for an additional resources on how to keep your children safe.
Community Resources
Many families may have concerns that extend beyond the educational needs of their children. If you need help finding resources in our community such as food, financial assistance, health care, and mental health services, please let us help you.
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Health Department
Northwest Ohio Community Action Coalition
JFS Financial AssistanceMental Health Resources
Williams County Resource Guide
Williams County Referral Resource Guide
Ohio Mental Health Resource Guide
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Council for Behavioral Health
Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Suicide Prevention Life Line: 800-273-8255
Crisis Line: 1-800-468-4357
Call 988 for suicide and crisis lifeline
Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
Ohio COVID-19 Resources
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a new set of online tools to help teens, kids, and parents deal with the mental and emotional impacts of COVID-19. For more information on how Ohio is dealing with COVID-19, visit Ohio's response to COVID-19 or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH. Visit Ohio Department of Mental Health for behavioral health-specific resources, and click HERE for a list of pop-up COVID-19 Testing Sites. For mental health resources, visit the Center for Disease Control or Mental Health America COVID-19 Resources.
Important Contact Information:
Behavioral health related questions: covid19BH@mha.ohio.gov
COVID-19-related OTP questions: OTP_COVID19@mha.ohio.gov
Housing questions: COVID19Housing@mha.ohio.gov
Telehealth questions: COVID19BHTelehealth@mha.ohio.gov
COVID Careline 1-800-720-9616.