The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of our daily lives. During these past months, many of us have changed the ways in which we live, work, learn, and interact with one another. While some of these changes have become more routine, the uncertainty that comes with the pandemic can lead to anxiety, creating a need for mental health awareness.
Molloy’s guidance department has recognized that anxiety related to COVID-19 is very real and something that affects both students and teachers. According to the Mayo Clinic, anxiety can create feelings of nervousness and restlessness, increased heart rate or rapid breathing, fatigue, concentration and sleep problems, and other issues. Guidance counselors are addressing COVID-19 anxiety with students and providing additional resources that can help acknowledge and ease these feelings.
“Anxiety in teens has been on the rise for years, and these unsettled times have only added to that rise,” said Guidance Counselor Ms. Kate McCaughey. “For teens, altering the routine of going to school every day is a challenge, especially for those who thrive on routines and having a place to be themselves. They need a place where they can feel safe, secure, and understood while they work through feelings of stress and anxiety.” Ms. McCaughey and the entire guidance staff are working to inform students and faculty about these very normal struggles and that there are ways to address them. “If we project kindness and compassion, something the Molloy community has regularly shown, we can help those who are feeling most anxious about this time,” said Ms. McCaughey. Guidance Counselors have advised faculty to look for anxiety among students, and they continue to provide resources on how to address anxiety. Some of these include a meditation app called “Stop. Breathe. Think.”, coping with “Zoom Fatigue”, and even focusing one’s thoughts through journaling.