Sacramento kids and teens are stressed about COVID-19. Here are a few ways to help them

Peter Beilenson, David Gordon
·3 min read

In Sacramento County, our entire community is demonstrating impressive resiliency during these difficult circumstances. We are seeing many creative and supportive solutions implemented to support families through the host of challenges COVID-19 has put before us.

Now, more than ever, it is important no one gets left behind. Closing schools creates a unique set of opportunities to find ways to support our youth.

We would like to challenge everyone to stay connected. We have so much technology available to us. We challenge everyone to reach out to three people a day and have meaningful conversations to support each other, given their needs relating to the obvious health risks, to losing jobs and income for some, and to coping with ordered self-isolation.

The teenage years are difficult to manage under the best of circumstances. The desire to break away from the family unit is hard-wired in the DNA and makes conflict with parents a regular and normal occurrence. Peers become the primary source of desired attention. However, those same peers are also struggling with the same difficulties, which makes navigating relationships very difficult.

Add a global pandemic to the mix and the results are not just difficult, but sometimes tragic. These are difficult times for everyone, and with the need for mental health supports rising for nearly all Californians, our young people – especially teenagers – might need the most support now.

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Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and Sacramento County Department of Health Services (DHS) have been engaged in a partnership for several years providing mental health and wellness supports to schools, students, and families. Currently, we are working on how to embed social emotional learning strategies into online learning content, and providing tips for educators on how to build and facilitate remote opportunities for student connections.

We know relationships are a buffer for stress and a critical factor for managing anxiety. Educators, parents, and students must now all work together to ensure connections and relationships are a central focus for our youth during this critical time.

Here are some tips and resources:

▪ Stay Connected: Reach out to at least three people a day outside of your family for meaningful conversations. When you help others, you reduce your body’s negative reactions to stress.

▪ Use technology for good interactions and limit exposure to negativity. Stay informed, but take a break from the news.

▪ Quality time: Make efforts to create opportunities for quality time and attention with your children. Play games. Make a meal together. FaceTime with others and share conversation.

▪ Talk about feelings: Create a safe environment for everyone to share how this stressful situation is affecting them. Share with each other strategies to deal with the stress.

Do you know a youth who needs to talk to someone about difficult emotions or behaviors, or are you a caregiver or parent with a youth exhibiting feelings or behaviors you need help managing? Call The Source at 916-SUPPORT.

The Surgeon General has put out a playbook for stress relief for caregivers and kids. The California Youth Crisis line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 800-843-5200. You also can find support at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Our young people must know they are not alone. There is support available. Be Resilient!

David W. Gordon is the Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools. Peter Beilenson is the Sacramento County Health Director. The County Office of Education and Sacramento County Public Health are working closely together to address mental health issues in our schools.