Mental well-being is about our thoughts and feelings and how we are able to cope with the uncertainties of everyday life. In order to achieve mental well-being, one needs to learn how to be resilient. Resilience is our ability to cope with change and adversity. By strengthening our Resilience, one would be in a better position to deal with life’s highs and lows. Many families are experiencing greater stress, fear, and worry as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. Worries about sickness, finances, and isolation, coping with grief from loss and having less outside help affected almost everyone emotionally, physically, and mentally. As a counselor, I personally feel the biggest challenge students are facing at the moment is the transition from online learning to a physical mode of learning.

The long hours, having to follow a schedule back again, the challenge of having to socialize again after being cooped up within our four walls after nearly 2 years, etc. For students with various other problems such as developmental, behavioral, or emotional issues, the move from home to school/college may be more difficult.

Teachers, parents, counsellors, mentors can help children by planning the transition, making strong connections, and establishing new routines. Children can adjust to their new environment, make new friends, learn new things, and excel academically and non-academically under proper guidance and support. While some students are coping really well with the transition and adapting to the new-old normal beautifully, there are some who are finding it really hard to adjust. But let me remind you that this whole change/transition will not be easy at first but slowly with time and also speaking about the challenges you face to someone (parent, friends, mentors, and counselors) will help you adjust more easily to the new normal. Remember you were the same individual who managed to adjust to the whole Covid-19 scenario (lockdowns, online classes, minimal socializing, etc.) and you will manage to bounce back through this phase as well. It’s critical to remember that youngsters seek to adults for advice on how to cope with stressful situations. It is appropriate to acknowledge some amount of anxiety without panicking, as this can lead to taking the necessary steps. Children’s anxiety can be reduced by teaching some type of good preventive strategies, communicating with them about their anxieties, and giving them a sense of control over daily stressors. Trying to get back into the normal routine and carry on with life despite Covid- 19 is also a tremendous opportunity for adults to model for children problem-solving, flexibility, and compassion as we all work through adjusting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities, getting creative about how we spend time, processing new information from authorities, and connecting and supporting friends and family members in new ways. Another important aspect parents, guardians, and educators need to keep in mind is being empathetic during such times is the biggest help you can render your child. Do not force them to adapt to the changes, we should understand that every individual has their own pace of coping with situations. Also, do not compare your child’s coping style or mechanism to another, this will only lower their self-confidence and motivation.

“The author, Alethea Baracho is the Counsellor at V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE). The institute offers a BSc and MSc programme in hospitality.”