Student Assistance Services News
December 2021
Student Assistance Specialists (SASs) have expertise in the mental health and substance use field. They have Master’s degrees in Social Work or Counseling, and most are licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions as Clinical Social Workers, Professional Counselors or Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. As members of the Unified Mental Health Team, Student Assistance Specialists support LCPS initiatives that promote student connectedness, enhance student resilience and educate about mental health and substance use issues. We provide educational presentations for students and parents, restorative practices, individualized and group support, referral services, coordination with providers, staff development and consultation with parents and staff.
To find your school's SAS assignment, visit our website.
Five tips for fighting stress this winter
We are entering the challenging winter months, the sometimes hectic holiday season and the mid point of the school year, which can present a variety of stressors. Workload, deadlines, errands, cabin fever ... and the list goes on. The strains of daily life pull us in many directions, requiring time and energy we don’t always have. When these demands become overwhelming, they may lead to the all-too-familiar feeling of stress.
A small amount of stress could provide motivation or protect you from threats. Large amounts stress, when untreated, can lead to short or long-term negative impacts on your mental and physical health. A realistic goal is not to eliminate all stress but to keep stress at levels that are helpful, rather than harmful. Here are five strategies for managing stress in a healthy way.
Building Resilience
Resilience refers to the ability to handle stress when it arises, and to protect oneself against future stress. Research has shown a number of qualities that contribute to resilience, including social support, optimism, sense of humor, spirituality, self-esteem, and adaptability. Many of these qualities can be fostered in counseling.
Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, are a key element of stress reduction. These techniques create a relaxation response, which counters the body’s stress response.
Time Management
Too much to do, and too little time. Balancing responsibilities and fitting them into a busy schedule is a common stressor. Time management skills can reduce the mental burden of juggling tasks and increase the likelihood that everything gets done.
Self-Care
When stress levels are high, hobbies, relationships, and free time are overlooked, leading to an increase in stress. “Self-care” refers to your passions and enjoyable activities that help you relax, have fun, or feel energized. These could include talking with a friend, exercise, reading, or listening to music. The essential part of self-care is not so much what you do—it’s just that you do it.
Cognitive Restructuring
Stress can arise more from our thoughts about an experience than from the experience itself. Two people who have the same experience might have different levels of stress (or no stress at all) based on how they think about it. Frequently, the thoughts that trigger stress are irrational or exaggerated, but we respond to them as if they are factual. Here are some examples of irrational thoughts that lead to stress:
“I’ll never get through this.”
“I have to be perfect all the time.”
“If I don’t get an A on the test, I’m a total failure.”
The goal of cognitive restructuring is to identify irrational and/or negative thoughts, challenge them and replace them with positive, rational thoughts. These techniques can be learned through psychoeducational services or therapy.
Written by Darren Madison, LCSW
Tips for talking to your student about SAS Presentations
Remain open and curious - Ask genuinely about what they heard or learned. Asking open-ended questions like: "What did you think about that?" "What did you hear that was new?" or "What stood out to you?" show interest and allows your child to direct the conversation.
Ask clarifying questions - Asking questions for deeper understanding rather than immediately sharing your thoughts or opinions shows a genuine interest in their perspective.
Make the connection - This is an opportunity to discuss any family history of addiction that could pose a risk for your child or personalize the information with stories or examples. It is also an opportunity to share the expectations within your household. Making clear what is and is not acceptable as well as the consequences associated with breaking house rules allows your child to make informed decisions and prepares them for accountability.
Fill in the gaps - If your child needs any further clarification or has any questions, explore the Educational Resources section below or reach out to your school's Student Assistance Specialist. Your school's Student Assistance Specialist can also assist with providing or referring for additional support.
Written by Fiona Brown, LPC
Education and Support Resources
Increase Your Knowledge
https://www.lcps.org/Page/223622 - Parent/Student Substance Use information
https://www.lcps.org/Page/201540 - Alcohol Information
https://www.lcps.org/Page/184676 - Drug Information
https://www.lcps.org/Page/201538 - Tobacco and E-Cig Information
https://easyread.drugabuse.gov/ - Easy-to-read drug facts
https://www.truthinitiative.org - Tobacco and Nicotine education, advocacy and cessation resources
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/comorbidity/covid-19-resources - COVID-19 & Substance Use
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X20303992—Stanford study on vaping increasing COVID-19 risk
https://www.dea.gov/factsheets - DEA website - drug-specific information, pill identifiers, social media trends
https://www.addictionpolicy.org/addiction-a-z— Addiction Policy Forum website—provides educational videos and articles
https://starttalkingnow.org/ - Education and tips for parents on talking to their children about substance use
Support for you as a Loved One
https://www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org/ - Resource for families
https://drugfree.org/article/online-support-community-for-parents-caregivers/ - Online Support Community for parents/caregivers
https://www.alanondistrict10.org/ - Support for family members of someone struggling with addiction—Zoom meetings
https://www.alanondistrict10.org/zoom-meetings—Support for children of parents struggling with addiction—Zoom meetings
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/mobile-app/ - Find online Alateen meetings
https://www.addictionpolicy.org/find-help—Addiction Policy Forum website for finding and navigating the treatment experience
Find a Treatment Provider
https://findtreatment.gov/ - SAMHSA treatment locator
1-800-662-HELP (4357) TTY: 1-800-487-4889
www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline - SAMSHA National Helpline
https://www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/smart-recovery-online/ - Online Recovery Community: Self-Management and Recovery Training
https://recoverydharma.org/- Recovery community based on Buddhist Principles, virtual meetings available
https://na.org/?ID=virtual_meetings—Virtual Narcotics Anonymous meetings
https://nvintergroup.org/ - Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
https://www.lcps.org/Page/228303 - LCPS listing of community treatment providers
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