San Dieguito Union High School District

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors. As much as resilience involves "bouncing back" from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth. (APA Resilience)

 

• - Building Resilience in Teens
• - Coping Skills, Resilience and Teenagers
• - Resilience Presentation Slides from SDUHSD Safety & Wellness Committee 
• - Resilience in Teens
• - Supporting Children's Mental Health
• - Things to Try: Coping Skills and Resilience

Stress is generally considered as being synonymous with distress and dictionaries may define it as “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension” or “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” Thus, stress was put in a negative light and its positive effects ignored. However, stress can be helpful and good when it motivates people to accomplish more. Increased stress results in increased productivity – up to a point, after which things go rapidly downhill. However, that point or peak differs for each of us, so we need to be sensitive to the early warning symptoms and signs that suggest a stress overload is starting to push you over the peak. (American Institute of Stress)

 

Coping strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events. Two general coping strategies have been distinguished: problem-solving strategies are efforts to do something active to alleviate stressful circumstances, whereas emotion-focused coping strategies involve efforts to regulate the emotional consequences of stressful or potentially stressful events. Research indicates that people use both types of strategies to combat most stressful events (Ref: UCSF MacArthur SES & Health)

 

• Set priorities - decide what must get done and what can wait, do the fastest/easiest items first and learn to say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload.
• Note what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.
• Exercise regularly - just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost mood and reduce stress.
• Schedule regular times for healthy and relaxing activities.
• Explore stress coping programs, which may incorporate apps, mindfulness, yoga, or other gentle exercises.
• Stay in touch with people who can provide emotional and other support. Ask for help from friends, family, and community to reduce stress due to school, work burdens or family issues.
• Recognize signs of your body's response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, being easily angered, feeling depressed, overwhelmed, and having low energy.
• Avoid dwelling on problems. If you can't do this on your own, talk to a trusted adult.
• Seek help from a qualified mental health care provider if you are overwhelmed, feel you cannot cope, have suicidal thoughts, or are using drugs or alcohol to cope.

• 10 Ways to Cope with Stress
• 40 Healthy Coping Skills
• 50 Ways to Take a Break
• Alphabet of Coping Skills and Interventions
• Healthy Ways to Handle Life's Stressors - APA
• Potential Coping Strategies & Worksheet
• SDUHSD Virtual Calm Room

• Understanding Anxiety Anxiety and Depression Association of America

BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. (SAMHSA)

 

 

AAPI – A variety of AAPI resources, data, and support including

• Asian American Health Initiative Resource Library (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services)
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resource Guide (Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations)
• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
• National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse

 

Union of Pan Asian Communities https://www.upacsd.com  A non-profit that provides mental health services focused on improving the overall well-being of underserved diverse populations.

 

 

 

 

 

Adolescents and Grief  Adolescents respond to loss and process grief differently than younger children and adults. The Dougy Center states it this way, In our work with teenagers, we've learned that teens respond better to adults who choose to be companions on the grief journey rather than direct it. We have also discovered that adult companions need to be aware of their own grief issues and journeys because their experiences and beliefs impact the way they relate to teens.

 

Students may have specific social-emotional needs based on their gender identity or orientation. Research shows that LGBTQ+ youth may suffer from disparate rates of bullying and harassment, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. This increased risk is often the result of, and in reaction to, negative environmental stressors that LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming youth face in their schools, homes, and communities. Recent research also shows that youth suffering from such health risks are at greater academic risk than other youth. (Reference: SDCOE - WestEd, CA Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) SDUHSD and Biennial State CHKS, California Department of Education (CDE) March 2019)

 

Mental Health means having good ways to deal with your feelings and how to enjoy life, even when things are hard. Just like physical illness, people can experience a mental illness anytime. You may hear people describe mental illness as a mental disorder, neurological disorder or a mental health challenge. Having a mental illness can change how you think, feel or act. It can sometimes make it harder to do the things you want to do. Just like when your body is sick and you go to a doctor, someone with a mental illness can go to a mental health professional. (Ref: Walk In Our Shoes) 

 

 

Resources

Find Referrals or Treatment

5 Tips for Talking to Teens about Mental Health Counselor-Pupil Confidentiality Live Beyond CA Parents & Caregivers Cal-Well to Supporting Young People’s Mental Health and Well-Being English/Spanish Each Mind Matters - California Mental Health Mental Health Resources - SDCOE English/Spanish NAMI San Diego Calendar Support Groups North County Lifeline Say This, Not That Support Children's Mental Health: Tips for Parents Talking to Adolescents - Starting a Conversation Teen Health Laws

Care Solace Contact Your Health Insurer Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor Free 24/7 support at your fingertips  Find Treatment Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Student and Family Resources San Diego Access & Crisis Line  English, Spanish  Tagalog, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi

There are several organizations that can help families access legal documents, housing, food, and public assistance.

• 211 San Diego
• Alliance for African Assistance
• Refugee Services - Catholic Charities 
• International Rescue Committee  
• Jewish Family Services
• Immigration at California Schools: Guide for Students & Families - Know Your Rights (multiple languages - see Enrollment page)
• SD County Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs - flier
• San Diego Rapid Response
• SDCOE Special Populations
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement  

Understanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) - NSSI refers to the deliberate destruction of one's body tissue (e.g., cutting, burning, bruising) without conscious suicidal intent and has a lifetime prevalence of 12-25% among adolescents, with 4-7% reporting ongoing NSSI. Approximately one quarter of these youth repeatedly self-injure. (Reference: National Association of School Psychologists)

• writing down any feelings on a piece of paper and rip it up or just rip up any paper
• punching a pillow or kick or hit a ball
• doing something physical like walking, running or skating 
• holding something very cold or warm
• changing your surroundings
• doing something to make a lot of noise - go somewhere and scream, pound on a drum
• calling up a friend and talk - not necessarily about self-harm
• keeping a journal or diary 
• meditating and breathing deeply or doing a grounding exercise
• listening to music, dancing or jumping around
• painting or drawing
• talking to a counselor

• 146 Things to Do Besides Self-Harm - Adolescent Self Injury Foundation (ASIF)
• 15 Things to Do Instead of Self-Harming - Psychology Today
• SDUHSD Virtual Calm Room

If you suspect someone is suicidal, please follow the steps on the Suicide Prevention page.

 

SDUHSD is committed to prevention and intervention in adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD).

 

Per the Center for Disease Control, adolescent substance use can do the following:

• Affect the growth and development of teens, especially brain development.
• Occur more frequently with other risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex and dangerous driving.
• Contribute to the development of adult health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

• Find Treatment Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Prevention and Early Action DrugFree.org
• San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth
• SDUHSD ATOD Program
• Talking with Your Teen
• SAMHSA Parent Resources
• Teens and Drugs: 5 Tips for Talking With Your Kids - Harvard Health