Learning to cope, coping to learn

Last year was challenging.

Unrest and antisemitism gripped university campuses across the country, leading to anxiety, confusion, and anger among Jewish college students.

Students experienced diminished mental health particularly following the October 7 attack on Israel and its after-effects. That was on top of ongoing, rising campus tensions attributed to increased political divisiveness and climate change threats.

Overall, mental health concerns among university students have been escalating as this new academic year begins. In response, two Chicagoland-based mental health organizations--No Shame On U and Rebecca's Dream--co-hosted a webinar in August for parents and students, titled "Managing Anxiety During Uncertain Times On College Campuses."

To help manage this especially stressful transition back to college, here are some of the evidence-based coping skills and strategies for cultivating resilience shared by clinical psychologist Dr. Joe Novak and me at the webinar:

• Habitual self-care is paramount. Be sure to give your mind time to rest and reset by getting sufficient sleep and exercising regularly.

• To manage stress and balance moods, choose nutrient-dense foods that include high fiber, lean protein, nuts, beans, fruits, and legumes.

• Think of social media as a snack that should be restorative and consumed only in intervals--and never in bed.

• Engage in collective activism; this can include canvassing for a cause or joining an advocacy organization. These activities promote socialization and provide people with a sense of agency and control, promoting resilience.

• Connect with community at places like Hillel and Chabad to build strength and feel a sense of belonging. This promotes identity safety, trust, and interpersonal connection--all key determinants of resilience.

There is a need to distinguish between physical safety and identity safety. The latter means you are comfortable presenting your authentic self. Today, it is especially critical for Jewish students to have places where they can nurture their identity safely.

At the same time, it is important to recognize the factors that increase anxiety, including tough discussions in the context of hyperpolarization.

Being open to learning other points of view and searching for commonalities within differing views makes it easier to engage in these conversations. To support this, JUF has created an online toolkit to help navigate these situations--visit juf.org/toolkit.

But it is also crucial to remember that dialogue cannot be mandated and that another form of self-care may be choosing not to engage with others.

It makes sense to be prepared for hardships and to practice strategies that support resilience, but it is also critical not to dwell on the negatives and worst-case scenarios.

Instead, be sure to recognize that--even during difficult times--positive things are still in motion. It is easier to cope when effort is made to notice, engage with, and even create pleasurable aspects of campus life, and to find places that support Jewish community on campus.

A recording of "Managing Anxiety During Uncertain Times On College Campuses" is available for viewing at noshameonu.org.

 Dr. Anat Geva, a J.D. and Ph.D., is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for No Shame On U.