Community Resources

We put together the following resources available for mental health support and general support during the COVID-19 situation.

If you are in need of immediate help, please call 911.

Managing anxiety and mental health related to COVID-19

How to manage parent/child anxiety during the COVID-19 health crisis

  • When frustrated with schoolwork, be cautious with mixing your parent mode and your teacher mode.
  • Be mindful of how your child witnesses your reaction to news related to the COVID-19 crisis.
    • For most children, their mindsets are formed and nurtured by their surroundings.
    • Children and adolescents will often imitate the emotional responses of their parents or guardians.
  • If you have to share information with your child, prepare ahead of time on what words you will use
    • Words like "health crisis," "pandemic," "shelter-in-place" must be explained to your child at their level.
  • If your child normally takes medication due to ADHD or another diagnosis, do not change the dosage or take them off completely just because they are not at school. You must have approval from their doctor first. This is often called a "drug holiday,' and many practitioners recommend against this.
  • As a parent, please take time to manage your own stress. Take a break from your children (but keep them supervised).

Credit: Dr. Abran Rodriguez, Counselor Educator & Certified School Counselor

Help hotlines


Recursos en espanol

Consejos para enseñar a tus hijos en casa (K-12)

(de Dr. Abran Rodriguez, un Counselor Educator & Certified School Counselor)

  1. Asegúrese de mantenerse actualizado con el Sistema escolar de su hijo agregándolo en las redes sociales y revisando sus sitios web con frecuencia.

  2. Pídale a su hijo que le describa su horario escolar regular. Pregúnteles de esta manera ... "¿Qué asignatura sueles tener para el primer período?"

  3. Comprenda que hay cuatro materias básicas y varias asignaturas optativas. Las cuatro materias principales son matemáticas, inglés, estudios sociales y ciencias.

  4. Incluya alguna forma de actividad artística en el horario diario (música, arte, teatro)

  5. Incluya alguna forma de actividad física.

  6. No pase más de 50 minutos en un tema y, en la marca de 20 minutos, tenga un descanso de 3-5 minutos.

  7. Si sus hijos han recibido paquetes de sus escuelas, tómese un tiempo para revisarlos usted mismo. Si su hijo trabaja desde un libro de texto específico, visite el sitio web de la editorial para ver si tienen recursos educativos para los padres.

Cómo manejar la ansiedad de padres / hijos durante la crisis de salud de COVID-19

  1. Cuando se sienta frustrado con el trabajo escolar, tenga cuidado al mezclar el rol de ser un padre y el rol de ser un maestro.

  2. Tenga cuidado en cómo reacciona a las noticias relacionadas con la crisis COVID-19 cuando su hijo esta alrededor.
    • Para la mayoría de los niños, su mentalidad está formada y alimentada por su entorno.
    • Los niños y adolescentes a menudo imitarán las respuestas emocionales de sus padres o tutores.
  1. Si tiene que compartir información con su hijo, prepárese con anticipación sobre qué palabras usará.
    • Las palabras como "crisis de salud", "pandemia", "refugio en el lugar" deben explicarse a su hijo a su nivel de desarrollo.
  1. Si su hijo normalmente toma medicamentos debido al ADHD u otro diagnóstico, no cambie la dosis ni se los quite completamente solo porque no están en la escuela. Debe contar con la aprobación de su médico primero. Esto a menudo se llama “vacaciones de drogas” y muchos profesionales recomiendan no hacerlo.

  2. Como padre, tome tiempo para controlar su propio estrés. Tómese un descanso de sus hijos (pero manténgalos supervisados).

Establecer expectativas realistas

  1. No haga del "aprendizaje" una actividad de día completo. Sé creativo con la escolarización. Los niños y adolescentes necesitan a sus padres / tutores durante estos tiempos difíciles.

  2. Como padre, no se espera que enseñe a su hijo con el rigor de sus maestros de escuela. Los distritos escolares entienden esto.

  3. Defina qué significa "éxito" para usted desde el principio. El éxito puede estar fomentando una comunicación abierta con su hijo. El éxito puede ser que su hijo se sintonice con su lado creativo.

Mas recursos

 

  • Juntines
    • Un montón de proyectos que se pueden hacer en familia
    • Disponible solamente en español
  • COVIBOOK
    • Descarga o imprime este PDF y utilizalo para poder explicarle a los niños que es el COVID-19 y como se pueden cuidar

Recursos de atención plena (Mindfulness)

  • Insight Timer
    • Aplicación móvil disponible para descargar en Android e IOS
    • Mas de 30.000 sesiones cortas de meditación guiadas gratuitas que cubren los conceptos básicos de la atención plena

  • Smile and Learn - Yoga para Niños
    • Videos en Youtube en los cuales les ensena a los niños como hacer varias posturas de yoga

  • Cosmic Kids Yoga
    • Videos de yoga para niños
    • Videos en español disponibles

  • Pausa de la Autocompasión
    • Este ejercicio se puede usar a cualquier hora del día o de la noche y le ayudará a recordar evocar los tres aspectos de la autocompasión en el momento en que más lo necesite.

  • Meditación RAIN (Reconocer, Aceptar, Investigar, y No Identificarse)
    • Esta meditación guiada te ayudara a reconocer lo que está sucediendo, a permitir que la experiencia este allí (tal como es), a investigar con amabilidad y a generar una conciencia natural que proviene de no identificarte con la experiencia

Signs and symptoms of depression

The following information is provided by Bayview Health Hospital:

How do you know if you or someone you know is experiencing depression beyond the normal “blues” that we all experience from time to time?

Signs and symptoms of depression:

  • Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or on the verge of tears
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
  • Weight loss (even when not on a diet) or experiencing weight gain. Also note decreases or increases in appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping or being overly tired
  • Restlessness or feeling slowed down
  • Fatigue or a loss of energy
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • A lack of concentration or difficulty with decision making
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

If you or someone you know has been experiencing these for two weeks or more, please seek help. 

Our outpatient program, remains open and we are taking every precaution by following CDC guidelines to keep our staff and patients safe.  If you, someone you know, or you have a patient in need of behavioral health services, please reach out to Bayview Behavioral Hospital (361) 986-8200.

Finding calm during uncertainty

The following information is provided by Bayview Behavioral Health Hospital:

Many of us are feeling stressed during these current times.  You’re limited on what activities you can do and may be feeling uncertain about the future. 

Finding Calm during Uncertainty:

  • “Take Five"
    • Walking away from what you’re working on even for five-minutes can be enough to de-stress you
    • Take a deep breath, meditate

  • Find Something You Enjoy
    • Laugh- Watch a funny movie
    • Read a book
    • Enjoy a bubble bath
    • Be comfortable

  • Eat Well & Keep Moving
    • Limit Caffeine
    • Take walks
    • Drink Sensibly- We often drink alcohol to change our mood, but the effect is only temporary

  • Balance your need to keep in touch with taking care of yourself
    • Communicate more with people that make you feel good
    • Limit your time with those who don’t

  • Just say No
    • Say “no” when you really do feel like you have too much on your plate
    • If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help

If you or someone you is having difficulties coping during this time of crisis, please seek help. 

Our outpatient program, remains open and we are taking every precaution by following CDC guidelines to keep our staff and patients safe.  If you, someone you know, or you have a patient in need of behavioral health services, please reach out to Bayview Behavioral Hospital (361) 986-8200.

Explaining COVID-19 to children

In-person care facilities

  • Bayview Behavioral Hospital (provides inpatient psychiatric treatment for children and adults, as well as inpatient and outpatient substance abuse programs) - 361-986-8200
  • The Purple Door (provides free services to victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in South Texas) - 361-881-8888 or 1-800-580-4878
  • Driscoll Children’s Hospital (pediatric health and mental health provider) - 361-694-5000

Strengthening romantic relationships

  • Gottman Card Decks
    • Mobile app available for download on Google Play and the App Store
    • This app offers helpful questions, statements, and ideas for improving your romantic relationship

Mindfulness resources

  • Calm
    • Mobile app available for download on Google Play and App Store
    • Short guided meditation sessions that cover the basics of mindfulness
  • Insight Timer
    • Mobile app available for download on Android and App Store
    • 30,000 free short guided meditation sessions that cover the basics of mindfulness
  • Smile and Learn - Yoga for Kids
    • This Youtube playlist teaches kids how to do several yoga poses
  • Cosmic Kids Yoga
    • Yoga videos for kids
  • Self-Compassion Break
    • This exercise can be used any time of day or night and will help you remember to evoke the three aspects of self-compassion in the moment you need it most
  • RAIN Meditation
    • This guided meditation will help you recognize what is going on, allow the experience to be there (just as it is), investigate with kindness, and bring natural awareness which comes from not identifying with the experience

Domestic violence help

  • The Purple Door (provides free services to victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in South Texas) - 361-881-8888 or 1-800-580-4878

Homeschooling/learning tips

Tips for parents

A video from Dr. Rodriguez at University of Houston-Victoria

Tips for teaching your kids at home (K-12)

  1. Stay updated with your child's school system by adding the school and district on social media and checking their websites often.
  2. Ask your child to describe their regular school schedule to you. Ask them like this…"What subject do you usually have for first period?"
  3. Understand that there are four core subjects and several electives. The four core subjects are Math, English, Social Studies, & Science.
  4. Include some form of a fine art activity in the daily schedule (music, art, theater)
  5. Include some form of physical activity.
  6. Spend no more than 50 minutes on a subject, and at the 20-minute mark, have a 3-5 minute break.
  7. If your children have received packets from their schools, take some time to review them yourself. If your child is working from a specific textbook, visit the publisher’s website to see if they have any instructional resources for parents.

Credit: Dr. Abran Rodriguez, Counselor Educator & Certified School Counselor

Setting realistic expectations

  1. Do not make "learning" a full-day activity. Be creative with schooling. Children and adolescents need their parents/guardians during these difficult times.
  2. As a parent, you are not expected to teach your child at the rigor of their schoolteachers. School districts understand this.
  3. Define what "success" means to you early on. Success may be nurturing an open communication with your child. Success may be your child getting in tune with their creative side.

Credit: Dr. Abran Rodriguez, Counselor Educator & Certified School Counselor

Homeschooling/learning activities and content

Online lessons & courses
  • Khan Academy
    • Free online courses in math and science
    • Content for preschool through high school
    • App for mobile phones called ‘Khan Academy Kids’ for children ages 2 to 7 where they get to learn about math and science in a fun and interactive way.

  • Jack Hartmann Youtube Videos
    • Free online videos where young children learn about counting, numbers, reading, and language skills.

  • Super Simple – A Place to Learn and Play
    • Website where parents can find free craft ideas, printables, videos and songs for younger children.

Activities that can be done as a family