Stress
Stress Management
Stress is the feeling we experience when our bodies respond
to difficult situations—whether that means running from a grizzly bear
or studying for a final exam. A series of physical changes occur (e.g. increased
heart and breathing rate) to prepare our bodies to deal with the pressure. 
In mild amounts, stress can actually be helpful, keeping us alert and attentive.
Unfortunately, many children and adolescents experience too much ongoing stress,
which can wear the body down and lead to a number of health problems, including
weakened immune system, headaches and stomachaches, allergies, insomnia, and
mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Resource Organizations » Stress
10 listing(s), including 2 with hotlines and 1 offering support groups
In Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
Center for Effective Child Therapy at Judge Baker
www.jbcc.harvard.edu
53 Parker Hill Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02120617-232-8390
Child at-risk hotline: 617-232-4882
Founded in 1917, Judge Baker Children's Center is a Harvard Medical
School affiliate dedicated to improving the lives of children whose
mental health problems threaten to limit their potential.
Integrating education, service, research, and training, the Center
is the oldest child mental health organization in New England and a
national leader in the field of children's mental health.
Parents Helping Parents and Parental Stress Line
parentshelpingparents.org
Offers support group(s)
108 Water Street
Watertown, MA 02472Parents Helping Parents: 617-926-5008
Parental Stress Line: 800-632-8188
Since 1972, when the organization was founded as Parents Anonymous
Organization of Massachusetts, Parents Helping Parents (PHP) has
offered hope and support to thousands of parents. PHP's mission is
to promote and support healthy parent/child relationships and break
the cycle of child abuse through peer-led, professionally
facilitated mutual help groups, which provide a nurturing,
non-judgmental environment in which to improve family
relationships. The parental stress line is free and confidential
and is available to parents 24/7 for support and guidance.
Organizations without hotlines
Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society
The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at
the University of Massachusetts Medical School is dedicated to
furthering the practice and integration of mindfulness in the lives
of individuals, institutions, and in society through a wide range
of clinical, research, education, and outreach initiatives in the
public and private sector. The Center for Mindfulness is an
innovative leader in mind-body medicine and mindfulness-based
treatment and research investigations, pioneering the integration
of meditation and mindfulness into mainstream medicine and health
care. The Stress Reduction Program continues to expand its
influence worldwide with hundreds of Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction (MBSR) clinics and free-standing programs attracting tens
of thousands of people on five continents.
Mood Gym
MoodGYM is an interactive program designed to help you:
* Identify whether you are having problems with emotions like anxiety and depression,
* Learn skills that can help you cope with these emotions.
MoodGYM is based on two programs which are successful in preventing and treating depression and anxiety. These are: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy.
MoodGYM is designed to be used by people who would like to prevent mental health problems or manage problems which are troubling but not incapacitating. MoodGYM is not specifically designed for use by people with clinical levels of depression or anxiety. MoodGYM suggests that those with depression scores above 2-3 seek contact with a health professional.
* Identify whether you are having problems with emotions like anxiety and depression,
* Learn skills that can help you cope with these emotions.
MoodGYM is based on two programs which are successful in preventing and treating depression and anxiety. These are: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy.
MoodGYM is designed to be used by people who would like to prevent mental health problems or manage problems which are troubling but not incapacitating. MoodGYM is not specifically designed for use by people with clinical levels of depression or anxiety. MoodGYM suggests that those with depression scores above 2-3 seek contact with a health professional.
Needham Health Department
The Needham Health Department offers a range of mental health
services for citizens of the town. Public Health Nurses provide
confidential counseling and referrals to all ages. Short-term
home-based services for at-risk teenagers and their families are
provided through Riverside Community Care's Alternative Youth
Services program. The program includes family counseling, advocacy,
information, and referral. Call the Health Department for more
information on these free services. The town's Substance Abuse
Prevention and Education program provides informational programs,
educational resources, and confidential substance abuse support
services for Needham youth, adults, and seniors. Contact Carol Read
at the Health Department to find out more about inpatient and
outpatient treatment, individual and group counseling, and peer
support resources regarding substance abuse, addiction and chemical
dependency.
Needham Youth Services
This is a town-funded department which provides professional and
confidential mental health services to youth and their families in
Needham. It offers support, information, and direction on issues
such as peer relationships, stress, grief and loss, substance use,
suicide, and other concerns. Most services are free of charge. The
department collaborates regularly with civic and community
organizations on a variety of projects.
Stress@Work
www.uml.edu/centers/cph-new/job-stress/default.html
One University Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854978-934-3268
This website is designed to help employers and employee health
program planners understand how to reduce workplace stressors. In
workplaces where job-related stress is common, this is a vital
component of employee health promotion and health protection
programs. This website is focused on reducing exposure to stressors
in the workplace, not on stress reduction strategies for individual
workers.
Outside Massachusetts
American Institute of Stress
The American Institute of Stress is a non-profit organization that
serves as a clearinghouse for information on all stress-related
subjects. The mission of AIS is to improve the health of the
community and the world by setting the standard of excellence of
stress management in education, research, clinical care and the
workplace. Diverse and inclusive, The American Institute of Stress
educates medical practitioners, scientists, health care
professionals and the public; conducts research; and provides
information, training and techniques to prevent human illness
related to stress.
E-Couch
E-couch is a self-help interactive program with modules for
depression, generalised anxiety & worry, social anxiety,
relationship breakdown, and loss & grief.
It provides evidence-based information and teaches strategies drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity.
It provides evidence-based information and teaches strategies drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/dbhis_stress/introduction.htm
4350 East West Highway
Suite 1100
Bethesda, MD 20814800-308-3515
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) Resilience and Stress Management Resource Collection can
be utilized during any situation, whether it is dealing with
financial stress, recovering from a natural disaster, or coping
with the loss of a family member or friend. The collection provides
a knowledge base for understanding the concept of resilience, as
well as the concept of stress and stress management. It emphasizes
stress management as a promoter of resilience and the importance of
fostering resilience to be psychologically prepared when stressful
life events occur.
Additional Sources of Information
- Stress, from the American Psychological Association.
- Helping teenagers with stress, from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2005).
- Resilience for teens, from the American Psychological Association.
- TeensHealth (2008). Stress.
- KidsHealth (2008). Childhood stress.
- Master Your Stress, an infographic on stress and its effects (click to enlarge to a readable size).
Disclaimer: Material on the MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service website is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. The MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.
