Mitigating Stress, Almost One Year In

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 16, 2021) – Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, students, faculty and staff alike are still adjusting to a new normal that none of us could have anticipated – physical distancing, remote learning, quarantining and the stress that comes along with navigating a global health crisis.

In November, a study published in The Lancet revealed that “people who were sick with COVID-19 had a significant chance of developing a psychiatric disorder after recovering: 18 percent of COVID-19 patients developed a mental health issue — like depression, anxiety, or dementia — within three months of diagnosis. Their risk was doubled compared to people who didn’t have COVID-19.”

Karen Sokolowski, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Christine Priest, coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), wish to reassure the University community that feelings of stress, fear or depression are entirely normal and there are ways they can be mitigated.

“We’re incredibly proud of the way our community members are handling the crisis and no one should be ashamed for feeling the way they are, whether it’s angry, sad or scared,” said Sokolowski. “This is a situation unlike any other, and the UAlbany community should be commended for doing the right things despite the enormous mental health challenges that accompany those ‘right things’.”

To cope with these challenges, it’s important to remember that mental health resources are available for students and employees. Sokolowski and Priest note the following tips recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories. It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body.
  • Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate
  • Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals
  • Exercise regularly
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Avoid excessive alcohol, tobacco and substance use
  • Continue with routine preventive measures such as vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc. as recommended by your healthcare provider
  • Get immunized with a COVID-19 vaccine when available
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While physical distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.

And while you may be doing everything you can to protect yourself from catching the virus, there should be no shame involved if you become infected. “There are a lot of assumptions right now, such as someone who becomes infected broke the rules, or didn’t follow health and safety measures,” said Stephen Conard, emergency manager at UAlbany. “In reality, you can be doing everything right and still come in contact with the virus. If that happens, use the tools available to you: masking, distancing, testing, quarantining and notifying friends and family whom you may have exposed.”

Take Time for Yourself

CAPS is coordinating well-being programs for the two scheduled days off during the Spring 2021 semester with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being. “Wellness Wednesday” on March 3 and “Take a Break Tuesday” on April 6 will consist of virtual events as well as grab-and-go kits for students and faculty. More details to follow.

“Similar to how CAPS offers resources for students, the EAP program is available to any UAlbany employee,” said Priest. “If you’re having a hard time, I encourage you to reach out so we can see how we can help.”

More campus and educational resources are available on the website.