Virtual Calming Room available for everyone
With stress and anxiety levels on the rise, a new Virtual Calming Room offer its helpful mechanisms and strategies for anyone who needs it
Though many are concerned about COVID-19 and their physical health, MCHS’s social services department has created the Virtual Calming Room to support the mental health East and West students — even if they’re not in the building.
February 1, 2021
Experiencing a different type of learning throughout this school year has affected students’ anxiety and stress levels. To offer relaxing solutions during these uncertain times, MCHS’s Virtual Calming Room is available for everyone.
With students still participating in digital learning, it’s more difficult to reach them and their families. But with the new Calming Room offers, the resources are available to everyone wherever they may be.
“The pandemic has impacted many students and their families, struggles of anxiety, sadness, isolation, and grief are common experiences during this time,” explains Maura Reid, one of West Campus’s social worker. “It has been more difficult for students and families to recognize that they are struggling when being isolated or at home.”
The virtual aspect of the Calming Room allows access to anyone from anywhere, whether that be at school, home, or out of town. The resources can also be useful for teachers if their class is feeling overwhelmed before a presentation, test, etc.
“The website provides the opportunity to independently re-group during a stressful situation by using one or more of the positive self-help mechanisms offered,” says East social worker Ashley Burger. “Students can try different resources from this website to determine what coping strategies help them when struggling emotionally.”
The site offers plenty of different calming tools to fit everyone’s taste, r. Ranging from sounds and music to coloring and creativity there are plenty of options accessible for students who need to de-stress.
“The room presents students with a variety of different options; using music or drawing might be calming for one student but watching the live animal feed might be better for someone else,” adds West social worker Katie Murtaugh.
The pandemic has impacted many students’ mental health this year by trying to cope with the ongoing changes. Having the Virtual Calming room as an outlet can be helpful for those who are struggling. While offering many different tools to help relieve anxiety, resources are also available to direct students to appropriate staff for help.
