Dear College of Education Community,
The psychological impact of the violence, hate, and war in our world is far reaching and deep. Last week, we witnessed the horrific and unacceptable hate crime toward an innocent young Jewish couple murdered at gunpoint while exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Every day we hear about the deaths of family members, especially children, in the wars in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in our own streets and news in America. In the face of these horrors, we must continually champion our fight against all violence and hate, and renew our commitment to reject antisemitism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Hispanic, audism, ableism, and all forms of hatred and oppression toward diverse and marginalized communities. An important but not always easy act of self-care for ourselves and others is honoring each person’s individual values and passionate perspectives while also engaging in respect, equity, inclusiveness, safety, and belongingness for all. We also need to recognize that witnessing, and even worse, experiencing violence and hate can lead to anxiety and traumatic stress and can cause long-term effects on health and well-being. This is the experience of people everywhere, those directly in the path of the violence, and those witnessing the effects of violence, hatred and death all around us in our world.
So how can we draw on our knowledge about self-care to help address and cope with this violent crisis in our world? Here are some suggestions below:
1. LIMIT TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER NEWS SITES. Whether it’s new updates of the situation, videos of the war, lists of places you can donate to help, or personal connection to the war – it can feel so overwhelming. It’s good to stay connected, but too much information can make us feel hopeless and can cause associated trauma. So be aware of not becoming overwhelmed. And it’s also good to look for solid and verified facts. If you find yourself starting to get anxious or panic, take a few breaths and take a break.
2. REMEMBER TO PRACTICE SELF CARE. It can be easy to think that you don’t deserve to focus on you when there are people suffering during war or when you are actively engaged in fighting oppression. But it’s very important that you focus on you while you also care about what is happening in the world at the same time. Otherwise, you will burnout.
3. FIND POSITIVES IN THE EVERYDAY. If you feel like your anxiety is spiking, look for the positives around you. Although there is violence and hatred, and it can feel scary – write a list of people you care about and what you love most about them. Looking back at that list, you’ll be so surprised as to how amazing your friends and family are. And for another positive in your life, donate aid to organizations who help the people who need your support the most during this crisis.
4. TALK TO A LOVED ONE. With anxiety and negative thoughts, you can sometimes feel really isolated and that you are the only person thinking about the war. Trust us, you’re not alone! Find someone who you feel comfortable being vulnerable with and share how you are feeling. And seek out a professional counseling source if this feels like the right to do.
5. TAKE ACTION. Find appropriate outlets to engage in supporting the safety, wellbeing, and rights of all people.
And for resources on how to talk with children about violence, please go to:
For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at
The educational, counseling, and Deaf Studies communities are committed to restoring peace, safeguarding human life, and championing a safe and respectful world for everyone. We must continue to hold onto this commitment as a part of self-care for ourselves and each other.
Warmly,
Shari