Dear COE faculty and staff,
We are entering week 2 of the Derek Chauvin trial for the killing of George Floyd, and the images can evoke a flood of emotions. Baqi Martin is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor at Connections Wellness Group in the Dallas Fort Worth area, and offers self-care advice in relation to this trial. “The testimony, the video from that day and even images from the courtroom can be a trigger; especially for Black Americans. If we don’t get a resolution to it then the re-trauma is just as real as the initial event,” said Martin. For this reason, he advises that it is important for everyone to set boundaries regarding rewatching the video and time spent viewing the trial, have supports in place now to process feelings, and engage in physical activity to release stress. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/mental-health-expert-advises-self-care-during-chauvin-trial/2598839/
Educators and therapists must also continue anti-racism work so critical for stopping future racist acts and for helping those who have suffered from racism heal. The following article from the American Psychological Association is one resource that addresses ways to dismantle racism.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/04/cover-dismantle-racism
For a list of other self-care options related to racism and inequality , please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
We can renew our commitment to antiracist work out of the pain of witnessing the George Flood tragedy.
Warmly,
Shari