Surviving Harvey: Faculty/Staff Support and Stress Strategies
September 14, 2017 | by Dr. Rebecca Weinbaum, Department of Counseling and Special Populations
To Lamar University Faculty and Staff:
Our community has experienced great loss, and the start of the Fall 2017 classes might be the most challenging Lamar University has faced. Amidst these disasters, despite having also experienced the devastation of Harvey and because you value the education and opportunities that we provide our students, those of you who are able have been here, pushing forward with the semester and supporting your students. Your strength gives us pride.
Lamar University adamantly supports the physical and emotional health of its employees. Your health is our health, and we want to support you through this time of transition. The Department of Counseling and Special Populations has provided resources for stress management as we continue to rebuild both our campus and surrounding community.
Below are just some of the stressful thoughts you may be experiencing as we begin our post-Harvey semester.
If you have this (or a similar) question...
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Then consider this(recommended) strategy...
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| I feel stretched thin due to a lack of time, energy and the emotional toll of the storm. I have so much work to do to get my home back in order. How do I keep from being overwhelmed? |
One of the first things you can do is to ask for assistance! We are really pulling together as a community - many people want to and are searching for opportunities to volunteer. Eat a balanced diet to restore your energy and, as much as possible, get enough sleep. Fatigue will slow you down so be sure to make rest a priority—even if you think you don’t have the time. Most of all, continue to talk to others who ask. Pain from loss and this difficult time can be less of an emotional burden when shared with others. |
| At what point should I become concerned if I cannot shake some of these negative feelings? |
Reach out to others. Talk to a professional about your emotional distress. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. |
| I am a faculty/staff member who was spared by the flooding from Harvey. I’d like to find a way to be supportive. What can I do? |
There are many things you can do to show that you care. A few words of support and encouragement can make a world of difference. When asking if there is anything you can do to help, be sure to mention specifically what you are able to do. In some cases, don't wait to act and don't be afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing.
Make someone laugh. It's called comic relief for a reason. Laughing is both mentally and physiologically therapeutic.
Things you might consider doing to help out faculty are:
· Providing a guest lecture to help ease a busy week.
· Help with student advising.
· Delivering meals.
Some to help staff are:
· If you can, making your own copies or running your own report.
· Stop by with lunch.
As your colleagues put their lives back together the most important things is that their friends, neighbors, and work family are making themselves available to each other.
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| The start of this semester has been way more overwhelming than usual. Is it possible I might have some degree of PTSD. At what point should I worry? |
Because stress reactions are so pervasive after a major disaster, it can be difficult to know when your feelings are more severe.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms can include persistent reliving of a trauma, trouble sleeping, and avoidance of places that are trauma-reminder. If after about 3 months, you find yourself having recurring nightmares, ongoing fears, or other anxiety-related symptoms, seek help from your doctor who may also talk to you about seeing a mental health professional. In the interim, talking about your Harvey experience can keep you connected with others and help to bring a sense of normalcy to your world.
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| What resources does LU provide for faculty/staff to cope with the emotional aftermath of Harvey? |
As an employee of LU, you are eligible to receive mental health assistance. You can also call toll-free 800-324-4327 to speak with a counselor.
You can find more resources from Lamar University's Office of Human Resources. |
Did You Know?
- If you have Texas Windstorm Insurance, you may eligible for a $500.00 food spoilage, cost of a generator, plus eating out due to evacuation. Note this doesn't come out of your deductible! So how do you know if you are eligible? Under the Form Number column, look for item 320
- You can apply for disaster assistance and check the status of your application.
- The Texas Department of Insurance has a consumer hotline at 1-800-252-3439 for insurance help.
- There are multiple places online to find lost or found pets. Find them here, here, here, and here.
- Free Tetanus vaccinations are available at select Gulf Coast and Houston area H-E-B stores.
- You can replace lost government documents.
- You can easily search for vetted contractors based on services you need. Or learn from the Texas Association of Builders about hiring a qualified contractor.
- You can get legal answers from the State Bar of Texas legal hotline at 800-504-7030 to basic legal questions in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. Or find a lawyer referral from the State Bar’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service.
- SpareFoot is offering free storage for Harvey victims.
- DriveSavers is offering free data recovery services to people who have lost files due to water damage.
More Local Resources
Stephanie’s Angels, a public Facebook group, is a useful contact point for people wanting to give and receive help. Posts include resources such as links for temporary housing.
Golden Triangle Business Roundtable provides support to people to find reputable contractors.
First Baptist Church in Nederland holds community activities for providing assistance with clean-up.
Survivors, including evacuees, in need of debris removal and home cleanup assistance as a result of Hurricane Harvey should call Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386 for free assistance from vetted disaster relief organizations.
The United Way Helpline at 211 has information on shelters and other forms of assistance that you might not know about.
The opinions and statements found on the Lamar University blog belong solely to the articles' authors and contributors and do not necessarily represent the those of Lamar University. Lamar University does not endorse products (unless otherwise stated) and encourages students to use critical thinking and good judgment while navigating online.
