During these unprecedented times everyone is experiencing some level of anxiety and frustration. JFCS is here for you and continues to serve the community. Teaneck Council members Elie Katz, Mark Schwartz and Jim Dunleavy organized a series of calls and invited Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) to speak to the community on mental health concerns related to COVID-19. Below are some of the tips shared on the calls.

Prioritize Social Interactions

Social distancing is recommended due to the health risk of being together in groups. One thing to keep in mind is that social distance does not imply isolation. Plan family time and ask children how they would like to tailor this time. Structure listen and play time with your children of all ages.

It’s especially important to support the elderly and those living alone. An added benefit of focusing on others is that it diminishes the amount of time we have to worry about ourselves. Call people who are older, alone or compromised. Just because they are living alone doesn’t mean they have to be lonely.

Validate Feelings

In these times, there are many things that we worry about that are beyond our control. Children and teens are missing rites of passage such as school trips, plays and religious ceremonies for which they have prepared. They may be upset about losing out on experiences that are now cancelled. Furthermore, people feel worry, stress and grief when people get sick or pass away from the virus.

While we can’t control the circumstances, we can control how we respond to feelings of loss. Share your experiences and validate the feelings of others by careful listening. It’s normal to feel anxious, angry or sad as a result of the losses we experience due to COVID-19. How we process these emotions can result in positive mental health for us and our families.

Create Structure

With many children being homeschooled, parents are expected to teach subjects with which they are not comfortable. They must also juggle and prioritize their children’s schoolwork and their own work responsibilities, and sometimes experience conflicting demands on their time. A work project might be due at the same time a child has an assignment he/she needs to submit, which may lead to frustration and anxiety.

Instituting and following a daily structure and routine in our lives can mitigate our worries. Families should problem solve together and create a daily schedule. Reframe conflicting demands as challenges, not problems.

Technology, the Media and Mindfulness

Be mindful of managing media exposure. How often we interact with the media and technology is something we can control. Abstaining from constant exposure to the repetitive news cycle can help reduce anxiety. More than ever, it is necessary to create device-free times throughout the day, during meals and before bed. Coordinate with children to set these boundaries and process news together as a family or with friends. If your children have questions, respond with age- appropriate facts, and don’t be afraid to say you don’t know.

Alongside our daily media diet, we should use our devices to connect to others. One can FaceTime with family, have a book club meeting on Zoom, go on a virtual date, participate in online exercise classes, or have a glass of wine or coffee or cook with a friend on FaceTime. Please remember that our human power of connection is not eliminated due to social distancing.

With so much chatter from the outside world, it’s important to take time on your own to connect with yourself. Spend some time alone each day practicing meditation, breathing, exercise, yoga or any other activity that calms and interests you.

JFCS of Northern
New Jersey Is Here for You

If anxiety, depression or fear is too difficult to handle on your own, then please reach out for help. For a true emergency call 911. If it’s not an emergency, call the JFCS helpline at (800) 541-6076. Hotline hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon and from 7-9 p.m. To access teletherapy, call JFCS at (201) 837-9090 at any time for an initial consultation. Our food pantries in Teaneck and Fair Lawn remain open and our Kosher Meals on Wheels program is still active. JFCS’ commitment to the well-being of each member of our community is unwavering and strong.

Michele Wellikoff, LCSW, is the chief development officer at JFCS Northern New Jersey.