Mental Health Toolbox

Check out this amazing resource from our very own Stacia Wolle, a key member of our Camper and Staff Wellness Team. 
From Stacia:
"In 2014, I started Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) at my school (with my friend and then colleague Jess Lewis). We are now in year seven of MHAW and I continue to work with incredible student volunteers who dedicate time and energy to educating others about the importance of mental health. What I am most proud of this year is the MHAW website that we built which is full of tools to put in your mental health toolbox. Although it was created with our school family in mind, it's really a tool that should be freely shared and used by anyone who needs it. Let's keep the conversation going about mental health!"

Click here to access it:  tchatmhaw.weebly.com 

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Original song written and performed by Ty Rabie

Books:
Let's Talk About Race, by Julius Lester (Video reading of the book here) 

As Good as Anybody, by Richard Michelson

Stealing Home, by Ellen Schwartz

Videos:
​
Interview of Rabbi A.J. Heschel (Rabbi Heschel walked side by side with Martin Luther King Jr in the Selma Civil Rights March)

 “I Have A Dream” speech, by Martin Luther King Jr

NBBCares Initiative

Please watch the video above for an explanation on what this amazing initiative is all about and how you could take part

​A wonderful article written by Daniela Aptowitzer, MSW, RSW

Living Through the Corona Virus - Feelings of Grief

I did some research to gain a better understanding of what grief means. I learned that there really isn’t one way to define grief, but rather several, the Grief Recovery Method website provides these definitions: 

“Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.”

“Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior.”

Are we grieving right now? By these definitions, yes we are.  We are grieving over the loss of routine, loss of certainty, loss of hope, loss of income, loss of a sense of independence and freedom, and in some very tragic circumstances, loss of life. 

The Five Stages of Grief (created by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler) is a well-known framework to help understand dealing with grief, and it frames and identifies feelings that arise during times of grief and loss. It identifies denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance as non-linear stages that people experience while grieving. That means there is no rhythm as to when or which stage you enter, but that with insight and reflection, you can likely (perhaps in hindsight) identify which stage you are in. I can fairly say that earlier this week I was firmly in the anger stage, as were several people I spoke with.

The importance of knowing about these stages is being able to identify the discomfort you are feeling as grief. Most people have difficulty looking at anything beyond death as a form of grief. However, by understanding the emotions that everyone (adults and children) are experiencing right now it will lead to greater compassion, feelings of hope,  and rejuvenation of coping skills that may be waning right now. These greater outcomes are what will drive our culture to begin the hard work to repair, recuperate and create a new normal. 

To gain a further understanding of grief and living through Covid-19, please read this article written by David Kessler published in the Harvard Business Review. You can find it here. 

Grief is challenging and mysterious terrain and during these unique times, I encourage you to gain awareness and employ reflection to deal with these emotions. Please feel free to reach out at any time if I can be of any assistance at daniela@campnbb.com