The HS psychologists also held informal drop-in sessions for students offering post-Election Day conversations. In addition, students could visit a Zoom room with puzzles and games and a mindfulness space. 

We had a chance to ask Dr. Ramchandani how the support groups are going:

What are your hopes in offering these support groups to the students? How are the sessions going thus far?

I hope that students are able to not only connect with one another but also access emotional support around the impact of Covid 19 as well as the country's continued reckoning with its history of systemic racism. Students will be able to see that they are not alone in their complex reactions to the present time period and will be able to share their current experiences and learn from one another. It will provide students a safe space to discuss their difficulties and successes that they’ve experienced within the past few months. Additionally, the group will teach students coping skills to manage stress, anxiety, feelings of isolation, and how to regulate difficult emotions. I am still in the process of finalizing the groups and welcome all new members!

What are some tools being offered in the groups to individually support the students?

We are offering ways to challenge anxious thoughts as they arise. Additionally, I’ll be teaching students how to identify their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, how they are all interconnected, and how they impact one another. We will also be discussing unique stressors that occur in each grade level. The groups will be mixed grades, which will be a great opportunity for younger students to hear and learn from older students about how they have managed throughout their time at Dalton. 

If a student requires additional support after the group sessions where can they go for support?

Dr. Diaz, Dr. Anderson, and I are always available to meet with students one-on-one. Additionally, we can direct students to many resources in the community. There can be many barriers to accessing mental health care, and my goal is to assist students in accessing care that meets their emotional and financial needs. 

In terms of outside resources, I always direct student’s to Dalton’s Health and Wellness page! The Health and Wellness team, directed by Justine Fonte, have curated a fantastic page that contains many resources on mental health and therapy. It contains my favorite resource in NYC, which is Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center!

Community Resources:

• First Program List Of Resources. To contact the FP psychologist directly with questions please email Debby Tascher (dtascher@dalton.org).
• Middle School List of Resources. To contact one of the MS psychologists directly with questions please email Keba Rogers (krogers@dalton.org) or Linda Anderson (landerson@dalton.org).
• High School List of Resources for Students. To contact one of the HS psychologists directly with questions please email Josie Diaz (jdiaz@dalton.org) or Talya Ramchandani (tramchandani@dalton.org). Students can also reach out to Assistant Dean of Students Terrill Caplan (tcaplan@dalton.org) or their House Advisors.