Social Emotional Resources and Support
Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger. Here are some things you can do to support yourself:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate using the apps listed below.
- When possible, try to eat vegetables, exercise, and get enough sleep.
- Amidst all of your household responsibilities, try to do some activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
- Remember -- You are not alone! UP staff is here for you!
*Contact Ms. Gold if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
How to Calm your Worries and Sleep Better (video): A Scientist's Tips for Falling Asleep More Quickly
Women’s Health.gov writes: “A healthy body image means you feel comfortable in your body and you feel good about the way you look. This includes what you think and feel about your appearance and how you judge your own self-worth. A negative body image can put you at higher risk of certain mental health conditions, such as eating disorders and depression.”
CLICK HERE to learn more about establishing and maintaining a positive body image.
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. Here are some tools to help you get started:
- Meditation 101: A Beginner’s Guide (video)
- Headspace (app): Meditation and Sleep Made Simple, free for Los Angeles residents through December 31, 2020
- Fresh Air (podcast): How Meditation Can Ease Pandemic Anxiety
- Noticing your thoughts - Sushi Train Metaphor (video)
- How Mindfulness Empowers Us (video)
- 5-minute meditation from goodful on Youtube
Self-care is any activity that we do with intention in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Self-care is unique to the individual, meaning what helps me relax may not be the same things that help you relax. Additionally, self-care is unique to the moment. What helps me feel better today may change tomorrow.
Here are some resources to help you practice self-care:
- Self Care Apps (padlet), from LAUSD
- Coping in Hard Times for High School Students (article)
- Insight Timer: free app for sleep, anxiety and stress (app)
Health & Sexual Health Resources: You can stay healthy by staying informed. Check out these resources related to your physical and sexual health:
- Know Your Rights (Teensource.org): If you're a teen in California, you have rights. And that's what this section is about - your legal right to accessing sexual and reproductive health care.
- Sexetc.org: A website by teens, for teens
Hotlines: See below for free and confidential support for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis:
- 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline (bilingual) @ 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
- 24-hour California Youth Crisis Line (bilingual) @ 1-800 843-5200
- 24-hour Trevor Project (hotline for LGBTQ youth) @ 1-866 4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386)
- 24-hour California “Warmline” non-emergency emotional support @ 1-855- 854-7415
- Teen Line: Text “teen” to 839863 (6-9pm) or call (800) 852-8336 from 6-10 pm nightly