D090 Task 3 Interview with Nadine Cichy PDF

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Coursework for course completed in 2021...

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D090 Task 3: Adressing Mental Health Issues: Interview and Community Sources Theodore Alan Clingman Frost June 17th, 2021

Theodore Alan Clingman Frost DO90 The School as a Community of Care Persis Fay Task 3 06/17/2021

1. Interviewee’s name and job title: Nadine Cichy, Professor of Mass Communications at Sinclair Community College Interviewee’s Organization: Sinclair Community College, Dayton Ohio Interview date and time: 06/15/2021, at 2:30 pm – 4:30pm

1a. Specific Needs

Need 1: I interviewed Nadine Cichy a former professor of mine at a local community college. Nadine and I discussed several mental health issues that she faces at her classrooms while catching up at the same time. The biggest mental health issue amongst her student population is anxiety. She said that it is “pervasive” at her school and something she deals with daily. She lists two main reasons that her students have anxiety. Either students struggle with being separated

from their parents or they suffer from anxiety coming to school. She listed several reasons why some students feel anxiety at school. The reasons vary from getting up in the morning, to being at school, interacting with peers, or feeling too overwhelmed to cope with school and the school work itself. She also mentioned that many of her students are dealing with the divorce of their parents. Divorce impacts and predominates stressors for her students especially when parents fight and don’t shield their children from the conflict. The causes of anxiety are as varied as the depth and brevity of ones anxiety. These issues not only effect the student body but parents as well. Anxiety when left untreated can lead to major learning difficulties. Some students deal with their parents having mental issues and choose not to seek out proper treatment because of this. They think treatment obviously isn’t working for my parents why should I seek help. Covid-19 as well has not helped students with depression and anxiety. Social isolation has taken a big toll on her students. She has classes where her students are so excited to be out of the house let alone in her classroom. Need 2: Another mental issue that Nadine faces at her school is depression. Her student population is at an elevated risk for depression. Millennials and today’s generation in general have grown up with the best of everything and become severely depressed when they realize their lives are not going to be as charmed as they had hoped when they were 14. In one class she has four students whose fathers have died unexpectedly at a young age. This class particularly has unique needs and the school has made efforts to try to offer support and help to her students. As a college professor, Mrs. Cichy comes in contact and deals with mental health issues every day. She has relationships with all of her students and especially those that have mental health needs and their caregivers. She works with faculty, students and caregivers to help meet the needs of her student population. She listed several examples of students that she helps each

morning as they come to school. The more I learn about education the more I realize education does not just mean teaching the cut and dry but making your students feel safe enough in your classroom to open up to you and learn about the material. Nadine helps try to ease anxiety and has produced strategies to help with difficult transitions. Leilani mentioned that the biggest problem her students face due to Covid-19 is pent up energy and feelings of being boxed in with the walls caving in on them is inactivity. She feels that her students do not get enough physical activity. She believes that for students to be emotionally stable and balanced they need to engaged in some form of physical activity. “Even doing as little as getting out of the house and window shopping is enough to make you feel better,” Nadine said in our interview. She feels as a professor of mass communications with a doctorate in communication theory that video games are a big contributor to many cases of anxiety and depression in today’s world. She says even her own boys particularly do not play and engage outside like her brothers did when they were her children’s age. They are more aggressive, detached, and obsessive about video games.

1b. Nadine mentioned several resources that Sinclair Community College offers the community to meet the needs of families and their students. She said that the school looks to the county to provide mental health services and emotional support for students and families. One of the programs she mentioned was the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program where families who don’t have the means can get free counseling services or help with medication from the schools on property crisis center. She also mentioned the Family Education Center located in building 10 of Sinclair Community College which offers classes to both parents and students. The Family Education Center offers many classes that address mental and emotional needs. She also shared a

link for Sinclair Community College Health and Wellness website (https://www.mcadamhs.org/) that provides help and information on topics like suicide, depression, and anxiety.

1. One law in Ohio that governs a teacher’s responsibility to the health and wellbeing of their student population is Ohio Revised Code 2151.421 mandates that Educators in both public and nonpublic schools with a certificate, permit, or license issued by the Ohio state board of Education are to report all forms of abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. There is also Health and Welfare Section 203 that became effective on May 14th, 2019. This particular law outlines what “health care and school personnel” may or may not do regarding the progress, health, wellness, social interactions, and behavior of students. These mandates will help ensure that when I become an educator I will follow the law as I make recommendations and communicate with parents and caregivers about their child’s social and emotional needs. If I have students that are struggling with mental health issues and in particular anxiety, I know that as an educator I am within my legal right to make recommendations to the school psychologist and the caregiver to have tests, evaluations, and assessments conducted.

Part 2 One location that families and teachers can use as a resource for help in the community to address mental and emotional well-being is Miami Valley Hospital Medical Center located one mile from Sinclair Community College at: 1 Wyoming St, Dayton, OH 45409. C1. Miami Valley offers classes, counseling, and support groups for all ages. Some of the classes and support groups offered address anxiety, grief, parenting skills, and suicide prevention. The Miami Valley Hospital Medical Center would be a great resource for parents and caregivers

dealing with children who have anxiety or are dealing with grief and depression. They could sign up for classes to educate themselves and they could also utilize the counseling center and support groups located on property.

References

BROWNLIE, FAYE. STUDENT DIVERSITY. PEMBROKE Publishing LTD, 2016. Dikel, William. Student Mental Health: a Guide for Teachers, School and District Leaders, School Psychologists and Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors, and Parents. W.W. Norton & Company, 2020. Merrell, Kenneth W. Helping Students Overcome Depression and Anxiety: a Practical Guide. Guilford Press, 2008. Perez, Lorea Martinez. Teaching with the Heart in Mind: a Complete Educator's Guide to Social Emotional Learning. Brisca Publishing, 2020. “Preventing Abuse and Neglect.” Ohio Department of Education, education.ohio.gov/Topics/Reset-and-Restart/Preventing-Abuse-and-Neglect. “Section 2151.421: Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect.” Section 2151.421 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws, codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2151.421. “Student Wellness and Success.” Ohio Department of Education, education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Student-Wellness-and-Success. Western Governors University. “Improving Diversity in the Classroom.” Western Governors University, Western Governors University, 22 Oct. 2020, www.wgu.edu/blog/improvingdiversity-classroom2005.html. Wormeli, Rick. Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom. Stenhouse Publishers, 2018....