Self-Care

in the

Classroom

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Kara Finch, Ed. S., HS-BCP

College Students & Mental Health

• Source of increased stress
• 2018-2019 Healthy Minds Study
• Most common concern: Anxiety
• Substance use challenges

Early Onset

• First onset by 25
• Majority have first onset by young adulthood
• Common disorders
• Social phobia
• Panic disorders
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Bulimia
• Anorexia
• Binge eating

College Students & Suicidality

Suicide Risk Factors

College Students & COVID-19

• 71% increased stress and anxiety
• 91% fear and worry about their health and loved ones
• 89% difficulty concentrating on studies
• 82% increased concerns over academic performance
• 86% disrupted sleep
• 86% decreased social interactions
• 70% negative impact on eating habits
• 59% financial concerns

What is Trauma?

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• An event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

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Trauma & Higher Education

• A history of trauma can interfere with:
• Ability to trust
• Ability to form close relationships
• Ability to form healthy attachments with others

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• Effects on higher education experience

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Signs of Mental Health Crisis

Recognizing Trauma in Learners

• You may see:
• Difficulty focusing, attending, retaining, and recalling
• Tendency to miss a lot of classes
• Challenges with emotional regulation
• Fear of taking risks
• Anxiety about deadlines, exams, group work, or public speaking
• Anger, helplessness, or dissociation when stressed
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Involvement in unhealthy relationships

Student Interactions

• Involve faculty
• Crucial that faculty understand
• Trauma-informed principles
• How they can make small changes in different aspects of their work

Physical, Emotional, Social, & Academic Safety

• Environment
• Avoid sexualized references
• Use de-escalation techniques
• Acknowledge the mass shooting epidemic in the United States
• Consider living conditions

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Enhancing Classroom Safety

• Student Characteristics
• Strengths
• Challenges
• Traumatic experiences
• Stressors
• Re-traumatization

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Content Presentation & Processing

• Course content and re-traumatization
• Difficult materials and warnings
• Verbal/written check-ins
• Always follow-up
• Allowing students to NOT participate
• Reluctance to participate
• Acknowledge, normalize, and discuss

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Assignment Requirements & Policies

• Scrutinize assignments
• Review requirements
• Consider students’ emotional limits
• Policies and practices should not shame students
• Late-day policy
• Require drafts of papers/projects

Instructor Behavior

• Avoid minimizing or being dismissive
• Never permit
• Threats
• Ridicule
• Displays of power
• Impatience
• Disappointment
• Use neutral language
• Self-disclose and model self-reflection
• Listen
• Do not invalidate concerns
• Provide appropriate and timely referrals

Classroom Characteristics

• Classroom features and triggers
• Avoid abrupt changes
• Avoid looming behind students
• Trauma-related needs
• Ask for feedback and suggestions from students

Trustworthiness & Transparency

• Establish clear expectations for the classroom
• Be open about goals
• Model excellence
• Offer low-stake feedback
• Provide detailed rubrics
• Involve students in planning
• Remember you are human
• Avoid using shame as a disciplinary tool

Self-Care

• Teach, model, and practice self-care
• Discuss self-care with students
• Consider
• Self-care module
• Self-care statement in syllabus
• Discussion of barriers to self-care

Compassion Ticket

I have anxiety that can cause me to feel really sick at times, but I try not to let that get in the way.

I am a stay-at-home mom and my child is also schooling online. It can be challenging as we often have to share a computer.

Please be patient with me. I am a single mom, working full-time at a gas station and I struggle to support myself and my child. I am a recovering addict of 4 years now, and I have been to prison several times due to my addictions.

I am getting mental health treatment for anxiety and depression. They are trying to get the right meds for me. I am not working due to an accident and having trouble paying bills.

I have been dealing with the loss of my father. I am coping, but at times feel depressed and overwhelmed.

I care for my wife who has an autoimmune disease. She cannot lift, dress, or shower herself. Thank you for putting this forward. I have never seen an instructor care for her students like this.

I have severe depression and anxiety that I am on medication for, but sometimes the medication doesn’t work resulting in me needing a day to “recover”. Sometimes it can affect my school and work, but I try to push through.

I work 70 hours a week divided between two jobs and am undergoing routine IV infusions for a chronic condition.

Kara Finch

kfinch0899@stanly.edu

704-991-0338