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Surviving grief, pandemic stress and parenting during a pandemic

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What a wrenching year the past 12 months have been: school closures and distance learning, cancellation of athletics, arts and culture. How can you help your kids cope with stress and depression? And do you need help - either surviving the grief of losing a loved one, or the challenge of parenting during the pandemic? Help is available, free, online - and confidentially anonymous. The Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) was launched to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the psychological effects of the coronavirus pandemic through community-based outreach, emotional support and educational services. Connect at resilientarizona.org, or lafrontera-empact.org.

Groups and workshops include a Chat Circle for Seniors; Parenting During a Pandemic Workshop; Parenting Skills Group; Surviving Grief Chat Circle and “Tactical Tips to Disarm Your Stress,” which is designed especially for first responders. Questions, or need assistance registering? If your organization, agency, or business would like one of these workshops or groups specifically for your employees, clients, students, patients or customers call Krylyn Peters at 480-694-4436 or email Krylyn.Peters@lafrontera-empact.org.
Free workshops online during May include:
Mindfulness Basics Group Mondays, May 3, 10, 17, 24 - a four-week group teaching the basics of mindfulness, and the benefits and principles of mindfulness. You’ll also be led through several mindfulness activities designed to help you relax.

Mindfulness Drop-In Groups: participants in these ongoing weekly drop-in groups, are led through 30 minutes of various mindfulness activities designed to help you take a break in your day and relax. Register for one or more groups and come when you can. Tuesdays at 8 a.m.; Wednesdays at 4 p.m.; Thursdays at 2 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m.

Surviving Grief Workshop May 20 from noon - 1 p.m. In this workshop for adults experiencing grief of any loss, you’ll learn ways to manage grief for different losses (death of person, death of pet, illness, separation, transition, etc.)

Tips to Handle Pandemic Stress May 12, from noon-1 p.m. In this workshop, you’ll learn about how stress may be affecting you, ways to manage your stress, and what resources are available to get more support.
EMPACT was founded in 1987 to address life-threatening behaviors by providing prevention, treatment, and emergency services. An acronym for Emergency Mobile Pediatric and Adolescent Crisis Team, initiatives began with ‘Teens Talking to Teens,’ in 1988 among the agency’s first programs established in 1988. EMPACT’s Survivors of Suicide support program began with inception of the agency; the Crisis Department and first Suicide Prevention Hotline were established in 1990 (that 24-hour crisis hotline is 480-784-1500)

EMPACT – by the numbers

• We answer over 40,000 crisis calls per year

• 45 percent of calls involve suicide as the primary issue

• Over 96 percent of these callers report improvement by the end of their first call to the hotline
Elements of the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program were made possible by a FEMA grant, and partnerships including the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).