May 12, 2020
Dear Shady Side Families,
In addition to the threats that COVID-19 has presented to the physical health of hundreds of thousands of Americans, a number of experts are concerned that the pandemic is worsening the student mental health crisis.
In an April 2020 survey of more than 2,000 college students conducted by Active Minds, one of the nation's best-known organizations supporting mental health awareness, the vast majority of respondents indicated that COVID-19 had negatively affected their mental health. Overall, 91% of students shared that they had increased stress and anxiety, while 81% reported a spike in their sense of loneliness or sadness. In a similar study, 41% of college presidents indicated that the mental health of students was among their most pressing pandemic-related concerns.
Experts cite social isolation as a leading factor compounding young people's mental health issues, as face-to-face engagement with friends stands out as one of the primary coping mechanisms young people use to build resilience in the face of setbacks. Couple this fact with the many disappointments about missed events and experiences over the past few months, and you have a good argument for intentional wellness practice for our students.
While much of the initial research on COVID-19's effects on mental health has been focused on college students, it is reasonable to assume that many of our students at Shady Side are undergoing similar challenges at the moment.
In light of these realities, SSA's counselors on all four campuses are available for student, parent and faculty needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are meeting regularly with a range of community members via phone and videoconference, making sure to listen, problem solve and offer referrals as needed. Our counseling team is maintaining regular contact with students of all ages who receive outpatient counseling services and actively reaching out to students who are identified by teachers, advisors, and parents to be at-risk in terms of their emotional well-being or academic performance.
Our Junior School and Country Day School counselors continue to teach Wellness classes asynchronously, where they lead students through our social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, Second Step – a research-based, teacher-informed, and classroom-tested initiative designed to promote the safety and overall well-being of children. They also meet with students individually and in small groups via live Zoom sessions for counseling and socialization support.
Additionally, we have designed our Distance Learning Plan at each division with the health and wellness of our students top-of-mind – a consideration that is one of a number of factors influencing the plan's daily schedule, core requirements, and predominant assessment models.
I encourage all of you to reach out to your school counselors if you have a concern about your own emotional well-being or the well-being of others in our community.
Please join me in thanking these incredible professionals for all they are doing to keep SSA healthy and well as we continue to navigate this uncertain and often isolating period in our history.
Best,
Bart Griffith '93
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