Pima Helps Students Cope with COVID-19 Stress and Anxiety

Tucson, AZ -- Pima Community College cares not only about the academic progress of our students but also their mental health as they navigate the unprecedented challenges of attending college during the Coronavirus-19 crisis.

With that in mind, our Teaching and Learning Center has offered a series of live webinars, and a recorded one – How to Recognize and Mitigate Stress & Traumatic Experience – is still available to our students at this link. Additional webinars will be offered in the summer and fall.

“It is really important that we help students be able to recognize traumatic experiences and dip into their resilience to mitigate the impact of stress on their well-being,” said Mays Imad, professor in the Department of Life and Physical Science and Coordinator of the Teaching and Learning Center.

That’s why she wanted to offer these sessions during a time of incredible anxiety and stress for many Americans, especially those trying to carry on normal activities such as their education.

“Many students may not have the knowledge to recognize that the anxiety they are having or the lack of motivation they might be experiencing are symptoms of stress and trauma. When we understand what is happening with our physiology in response to trauma, we can be more compassionate with ourselves and less self-judgmental when we don't complete an assignment for example. We understand that we coping. We can then begin to self-regulate and that will help us learn and thrive,” Mays said.

“I am so pleased with the response,” said Dolores Durán-Cerda, Pima Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor. “Students have flocked to her live webinars.”

CONTACT:

Libby Howell, APR, Executive Director

Media, Government and Community Relations

(520) 206-4778, ehowell1@pima.edu