Coping and Resilience

STRENGTH FLExIBILITY B ALANCE Coping and Resilience in Times of Stress

By Mark Hager, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged us in many ways, yet we at Menlo College have shown our resilience. Psychologists emphasize “adapting well”1 as the key to maintaining resilience in the face of trauma. Menlo College psychology faculty and students show their adaptability with tips they have shared about how to maintain our well-being as we come through the pandemic.

Social distancing, sheltering in place and business lockdowns can create a deep sense of loneliness. Yet a phone call or video conference with distant relatives or virtual coffee hours with friends around the world may still be good solutions in our “new normal.” This technology, though not ideal, nevertheless offers real-time connections to share stories of daily life and adjustment. One unforeseen benefit of our virtual work has been collaborating with more colleagues across the country and the world. One of our psychology students started a Zoom yoga class for her neighborhood. It brought people together virtually and, as restrictions eased, this group began to have play dates for adults and children in the community.

Resilience and successful coping strategies benefit from maintaining an air of gratitude and a sense of optimism2,3,5. Finding something to anticipate or be grateful for will differ for each of us. At Menlo College, the spring event Wellness Week 1.0 (I’m hopeful it becomes a thing) brought some students a sense of gratitude for those faculty who introduced new wellness practices. One student was grateful for their journal practice, which included daily prompts with reminders of things to name and hold with intention and appreciation. Early research during the pandemic showed that flexibility was protective against risk factors to mental health4. Our pivot to online learning demanded that both faculty and students practice letting go of those things we can’t control. “Can you hear me?” “Someone’s mic is on,” and “I got kicked out of zoom” are frequent reminders of this need to be realistic about what is and is not possible in virtual classes. I asked our psychology faculty and students to share some of their wellness practices to promote our collective well-being. They listed exercise, such as walks in nature, yoga and dance, and internal restorative techniques, including mindfulness meditation, reading, prayer, and listening to music. Students have appreciated that faculty start class with meditation minutes or shared experiences of daily life, providing “safe spaces” for them to gather and reflect during this historic and tumultuous moment in our lives. I have been grateful to support early career scientists and clinicians in the Department of Veterans Affairs. We have shared research and practices and hosted discussion forums to promote coping strategies during and through the pandemic6. Our work has touched on many of these themes: relationships, self-care, optimism and resilience. Self-care also includes seeking help from social networks and professionals. At Menlo College we are fortunate to have Dr. Jake Kelman and his team in the Office of Mental Health Services to provide valuable assistance to our students.

The MHS Clinic provides support to current students. There are no fees. If you would like to talk to someone, you may visit the clinic for a virtual appointment.

• Contact Dr. Jake Kelman, Director of MHS at jake.kelman@menlo.edu or The Dean of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@memlo.edu • The National Institute of Mental Health provides a list of mental health resources in the United States.

You may visit the page at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml • In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Left: Menlo student Yuanchun ‘Gracie’ Guo ’24 shares her passion for yoga with her community. Photo Lisa Ann Villarreal

1. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7666616/ 3. https://www.journalppw.com/index.php/JPPW/article/view/255/96 4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212144720301587 5. file:///C:/Users/mhager/Downloads/245-Article%20Text-1359-1-10-20201208.pdf 6. https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/cyber_seminars/archives/video_archive. cfm?SessionID=3914&Seriesid=76