ACA MEMBER BLOGS

The story of Lorna Breen, an emergency room doctor in New York who died by suicide after treating people with COVID-19, underscores the psychological risks hospital staffs face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As school counselors during this pandemic and racial issues, we need to help each and every Black boy rise up to be strong, confident, proud of himself, and succeed in school, career, and life in general.

Mandated quarantine, fear of being infected or infecting others, isolation from friends and family, economic instability, and layoffs are some of the issues increasing people’s anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. And people may find that their usual coping strategies aren’t enough to successfully manage their heightened anxiety during this time.

Social connection plays a vital role in people’s mental health. Research indicates that people who feel lonely are 26 percent more likely to die early than people who are more socially connected.

“It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood…” perhaps you recall the Mister Rogers Neighborhood theme song with nostalgia and visions of him changing from his blazer to his soft hand knit cardigan sweaters that his mother made for him. One thing I appreciated about his theme song, was that he wanted us to know that it could be a beautiful day in the neighborhood regardless of what the weather was like outside.

As many have said during this time: if we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem. It is imperative to stand up together.

As a school counselor, or mental health counselor, we all know that there are a lot of kids and adults that need help coping with this current pandemic and racial distress. You cannot help them, or even yourself, if you are not mentally, emotionally, or physically healthy.

The latest events in this country, including our exposure to witnessing the horrendous, unjustified murder of George Floyd, will no doubt have ripple effects on our psychological health. The adversity people of color, in particular Blacks in USA, have endured for centuries was captured in a 10-minute video filmed by a 17-year-old woman.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been asked to keep their distance and stay isolated inside their homes to keep themselves and others safe. But this behavior may have implications on people’s mental health.

We must continue to advocate and speak out against racism. The committee recognizes the daily racial trauma experienced by the Black and African American communities and our duty to express our alliance with its members. As a committee and as individuals, we are taking supportive action in the movement for racial justice. We are listening.