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Maintaining Mental Health & Building Resilience

Karan Steuart, Head of Counseling & Wellness
Throughout the year, many of our students have participated in character education as well as social and emotional skill-building activities with the Denver Academy Counseling and Wellness Department. Recently, one of our activities involved asking students to identify an experience where they reached a goal or had an opportunity that resulted in them feeling proud or pleased with themselves. Students were then asked to identify one intentional skill they used in order to meet that experience. Responses included willingness, creativity, determination, “being my authentic self”, humor, open-mindedness, and flexible thinking. Many of the responses were directly related to adapting to a new style of learning and interacting (aka, Distance Learning). 

As Isolation and disruption to routine continue, feelings of irritability and disconnection might increase as we anticipate summer! There is no easy way to plan for unprecedented experiences, but we can focus on coping skills and building resilience. Taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from this experience and identify intentional skills that are familiar to our experience of success and pride can be helpful in moving forward.

What we can learn from these students (your children) is that when put to the task they can identify what works for them. When we model positive attitudes, optimism and a willingness to learn from adversity, identify effective skills, and feel proud, we continue an approach that builds character and resilience.
Build Your Connections
  • Write a letter or note to a family member or neighbor who might be feeling especially lonely.
  • Leave a “Thank You” poster or note for first responders. Remember that this includes grocery store workers, mail carriers, and restaurant workers (pizza delivery drivers!).
  • Reach out to friends and family members who you haven’t spoken to in a while. Use the technology we have to set up gatherings that can be done safely! Take a walk or hike with someone while maintaining a physical distance. Connection with others remains most important during this time! 
Learn Coping Skills
  • Deep Breathing helps to calm the nervous system. This can be done as a preventive practice as well as when experiencing symptoms of panic or discomfort. 
  • Tap into the five senses: Identify and focus on something that starts with the first letter of your first name. Listen carefully and identify the furthest sound you can hear. Smell a flower, a perfume, or an essential oil and focus on the smell. Feel the texture of the chair you are sitting in, the shirt you are wearing. Think of the flavor and taste of your favorite food, identify everything you like about it. 
  • Meditation and Visualization: One of my more recent favorite Apps,
  • Exercise! Red Light, Green Light? Freeze Tag? Show your kids some of your favorite Old School Yard Games
Adjust Your Thought Process
  • As difficult as it may seem to have a positive outlook, positive thinking will help you focus on hope and visualize a better future. Part of making this happen is to say your thoughts out loud. Maintaining negative thoughts in our head maintains those thoughts in a closed space, closing off the opportunity for new or different perspectives. 
  • Words and language have power. Using language and words that are aggressive or passive-aggressive can contribute to feelings of discomfort and anxiety. Being thoughtful in our use of language requires the ability to think before you speak. Counting to five or ten results in a response, blurting out results in a reaction. 
 
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4400 E. Iliff Ave. Denver CO, 80222
Main/Attendance: 303.777.5870
Admissions: 303.777.5161
General: info@denveracademy.org
Denver Academy is a private school for students with varied learning profiles in grades 2-12, located in Denver, CO. DA inspires and empowers diverse learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.