MH 3/30/2020

Dealing with COVID-19 Pandemic: Parent Resource Guide

With so much uncertainty over the last couple weeks, a lot of families are feeling

stressed out over a variety of needs due to our new normal. ASD20 wishes to offer you

this guide for resources to help with needs that might arise during this time of school

closure. Information regarding various community resources is available in this packet as

well as online resources, ideas for activities and ways to support good mental health and

wellbeing for families.

*ASD20 school counselors will be posting office hours on their school websites and will

share contact information if you should need to reach out to them concerning your child

and/or other needed resources.

Resources for mental health concerns:

Colorado Crisis Support Line 844-493-8255

Text TALK to 38255

*This Text to Talk line is a huge resource for Coloradans. Masters level clinicians provide free, confidential, professional and immediate support for any mental health, substance use or emotional concern, 24/7/365. The average session is 45 minutes. Please see link for more information:

https://coloradocrisisservices.org/?_vsrefdom=p.1188&npclid=EAIaIQobChMI1vq8gpe06AIVFZJbCh2iYQzIEAAYAiAAEgJEVfD_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=colorado%20helpline&utm_campaign=Brand

Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership 719- 573-7447 Crisis Counseling If you or someone in your family is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, anyone can set up a video conference therapy session. Therapists have the ability to video conference and peer support groups will be accessible through a zoom link.

**For emergencies (Medical/Police) CALL 911 or go to your closest emergency room**

MH 3/30/2020

Crisis Stabilization Units in Colorado Springs

AspenPointe 115 South Parkside Drive Colorado Springs Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 719-572-6100

AspenPointe Woodmen 6071 East Woodmen Rd, Suite 135 St. Francis Medical Center, North Care Bldg. Colorado Springs 719-572-6100 M-Th 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

These walk-in centers are available for all ages, regardless of ability to pay. Patients have immediate access to licensed professional counselors, peer specialists and care coordinators, and referral assistance for a broad range of other community services as needed. These centers offer a safe less-restrictive alternative to hospitalization and provides timely de-escalation, early intervention and patient stabilization to prevent the need for higher levels of care.

Behavioral Health Centers

Cedar Springs Hospital 2135 Southgate Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA 719-633-4114

Peak View Behavioral Health 7353 Sisters Grove, Colorado Springs, CO 80923 719-444-8484

Highlands Behavioral Health 8565 Poplar Way, Littleton, CO 80130 720-348-2805

Parkview Medical Center Behavioral Health 56 Club Manor Dr # 100, Pueblo, CO 81008 (719) 584-4767 www.parkviewmc.com These centers are available 24/7 to schedule and perform mental health assessments. Walk-ins are always welcome. Programs are designed to provide crisis stabilization and help patients and families develop healthy coping skills.

MH 3/30/2020

Military-Specifics Resources Peak Military Care Network. (719) 955-0742 http://www.pikespeak.co.networkofcare.org/veterans Extensive directory of all local services, and state and national resources, for veterans, active duty personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families. Military 1 Source (hub for all military related services) (800) 342-9647 National Veterans Crisis Line........................................ (800) 273-8255 /press 1 Vets 4 Warriors (answered 24/7 by veterans) (855) 838-8255

Other valuable resources for advocacy, self-help and support groups:

• Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention www.pikespeaksuicideprevention.org 704 N. Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 573-7447 Free and confidential support groups for adults and adolescents with thoughts or actions toward suicide. Providing Zoom groups at this time. Please call for dates and times.

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (719) 477-1515

• National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) (719) 473-8477 This guide below is excellent and answers more specific questions regarding emotional wellness while being in shelter in place. https://www.nami.org/getattachment/About-NAMI/NAMI-News/2020/NAMI-Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide-1.pdf

• Empower Colorado (support groups for families with children) (866) 213-4631

Hotlines - **For emergencies (Medical/Police) CALL 911**

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517) This hotline has been specifically created for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255)

• NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI, info@nami.org M-F, 10 AM - 6 PM ET Text "NAMI" To 741741

• Alcoholics Anonymous (719) 573-5020

• Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (TESSA) (719) 633-3819

MH 3/30/2020

• Aspen Pointe Lighthouse. (719) 572-6340

• Self-Injury Hotline (800) DON’T CUT (800) 366-8288

• Safe2Tell (877) 542-SAFE (7233)

LBGTQ+ Resources: Trevor Project For LGBTQ+ youth dealing with suicidal thoughts or mental-health problems, 24/7 services

▪ Call TrevorLine 1-866-488-7388 ▪ Text TrevorText by texting START to 678678 ▪ Chat one-on-one at TrevorChat ▪ Chat with peers at TrevorSpace, an online chat group for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 ▪ https://www.trevorspace.org

Trans Lifeline A support hotline for trans* people, by trans* people, call 877-565-8860 LGBT National Help Center

▪ For LBGTQ+ youth up to age 25, talk line for confidential support Call 800-246-7743

▪ Chat with peers at the moderated Youth Chat Room Lounge https://www.glbthotline.org/youthchatrooms.html

▪ Chat one-on-one in Online Peer-Support Chat https://www.glbthotline.org/peer-chat.html

MH 3/30/2020

Food, housing, utilities, etc. Referrals for: food, housing, utilities, home repair, emergency shelter, clothing, transportation, military assistance, taxes, mental health, senior issues, medical care and more please call 2-1-1 or visit Pikes Peak United Way 2-1-1. Website: https://www.211colorado.org/ The El Paso Community Health Partnership website has an abundance of resources for basic needs, childcare and resources for children and teens, and volunteer opportunities. Screen shots of links are below. The website to access these links: https://www.elpasocountyhealth.org/community-resources-0

MH 3/30/2020

MH 3/30/2020

Helpful Parent Resources/Education

for

Helping Children/Teens

With COVID-19

MH 3/30/2020

MH 3/30/2020

Online Resources: 1) El Paso County Community Health Partnership – Getting Help: COVID-19 Updates and

Resources, https://www.ppchp.org/covid-19-getting-help/ 2) Common Sense Media – this website provides free ideas/activities/support for students

and parents in the digital world provided in English and Spanish https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-

pandemic?j=7713084&sfmc_sub=198014958&l=2048712_HTML&u=143809173&mid=64097

03&jb=477&utm_source=edu_nl_20200324&utm_medium=email

3) Talking to Children about COVID-19 from the National Association of School Psychologists (provided in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and more languages) https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

4) Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-social-distancing-quarantine-isolation-031620.pdf

5) Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/care-for-caregivers-tips-for-families-and-educators

6) How to Talk to Your Anxious Child About the Coronavirus – Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-is-not-the-boss/202002/how-talk-your-anxious-child-about-the-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR0oXh-6aZEXI6nWfu5aRSJGjhnofYRMSeVnHpD-ARcAw6bRY0XJcBb7ZXY

7) Helping Children Cope with Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak – World Health Organization https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf?sfvrsn=f3a063ff_2

8) Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZsOhfSriSAe8NiCqvGj_2lCMUZ4WGfwM/view

9) Just for Kids: comic and podcast for kids about COVID-19 - National Public Radio https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

10) NAMI’s guide below is excellent and answers more specific questions regarding emotional wellness while being in shelter in place.

https://www.nami.org/getattachment/About-NAMI/NAMI-News/2020/NAMI-Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide-1.pdf

11) Coronavirus PSA’s to help with dealing with the pandemic https://vimeo.com/showcase/6912221

MH 3/30/2020

Dealing with Suicidal Thoughts and Ideation

It is very normal and common to experience depression, anxiety, anger and other overwhelming emotions during a crisis such as the Coronavirus outbreak. It is important for parents to practice self-care for the long duration of this event. It is also important for parents to be tuned in to the emotions and behaviors children may be experiencing during this time. If you, your child or loved one are struggling with mental health, please see below some important information about suicidal thoughts and ideation and if needed, please access the mental health resources listed at the beginning of this guide or in an emergency, call 911.

Suicide - The act of suicide is a desperate attempt to end the emotional or physical pain felt by an individual in crisis. Take all suicide threats seriously! DO NOT:

• Keep a secret Leave the person alone

• Treat lightly or dismiss the threat Offer simple solutions

• Offer or suggest drugs or alcohol Judge

• Try to be a counselor

Common Warning Signs:

• A previous suicide attempt

• Verbal threats — “I wish I were dead.” “I just want to end it.”

“There is nothing worth living for.”

• Behavioral changes — unusual risk taking or more reserved

• Making unusual purchases, such as a rope or weapon

• Giving away possessions

• Abusing alcohol or drugs

MH 3/30/2020

• Problems in school or work

• Isolation from others

• Themes of death

• Sudden, unexpected happiness

• “Taking care of business,” such as making final plans,

preparing a will or saying goodbye

How should I talk to my loved one in crisis?

• Stay calm. Talk slowly and use reassuring tones.

• Realize you may have trouble communicating with your loved one. Ask simple questions and

repeat them if necessary, using the same words each time.

• Understand that the crisis may cause your loved one to say hurtful things. Try not to take

these insults personally.

• Say “I’m here. I care. I want to help. How can I help you?” not “Get over it.”

• Call family, friends, neighbors, and people from your place of worship or from a local

support group to help you. This situation is too large to handle alone.

• Use 911 when you or others are in immediate danger.

Self-Injury

Self-injury, Self-harm & Cutting — Defined as deliberate injury to oneself through cutting,

burning, carving, hair pulling or self-poisoning. Self-injury is...

• Merely a coping method to deal with other emotional problems — the cry for help that some-

thing else is wrong in the person’s life. Fifty percent of self-injurers are using the behavior to cope

with childhood abuse.

• The fifth leading reason for emergency room visits.

• A repeated, addictive behavior. Self-injury becomes addictive because of the endorphins re-

leased by the body during the cutting behaviors.

• Evidenced by major depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders such as bipolar or

personality disorders such as borderline.

• Often accompanied with an eating disorder.

• NOT necessarily a suicide attempt. However, 40% of self-injurers will develop suicidal ideations

and/or attempt suicide.

Why do people self-injure?

• To regain control over their body.

• Physical representation of self-hatred, shame and guilt.

• To escape feelings of tension, anxiety, loneliness, numbness or inadequacy.

MH 3/30/2020

• Provides a brief relief from intense emotional pain.

• Inability to verbally express emotions. To communicate pain physically.

• To experience a “high” from a biochemical release during self-injury.

Treatment of Self-Injurious Behaviors

• Most effective treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy*, family therapy, medication

and, in severe cases, hospitalization.

• Self-injury is often the only part of their lives they perceive they can control. Allowing the

injurer to have choice and power in the decision-making process for treatment is vital to its

success.

• Recovery is a multi-step process. Do not get angry with the person for continuing to engage in

self-injury. Anger only adds to the feelings that make them want to self-injure. It will take time for

the self-injurer to replace that coping skill with more healthy options.

• They will learn new ways to handle and express painful emotions (i.e., shame, betrayal, rage,

sadness).

• Appropriate coping behaviors must be developed. Replacement behaviors such as tearing phone

books in half or hitting a punching bag can be good alternative releases for intense emotions.

• Art therapy and writing therapy also can be good replacement behaviors that encourage

healthy emotional expression.

• Once less harmful coping skills are developed, the underlying issue of abuse or other issues

causing the pain can be explored. Do not try to address the causes of the pain until they have

learned new coping skills.

ASD20 is committed to serving and helping our students, parents and staff during these difficult times. If you should need further assistance, please contact Maureen Lang, Executive Director for Learning Services, at maureen.lang@asd20.org.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

MH 3/30/2020

MH 3/30/2020

MH 3/30/2020

MH 3/30/2020