Webinar to address stress, anxiety amid COVID-19

As fear and uncertainty grow amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so, too, can stress and anxiety.

For that reason, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in an April 9 webinar titled “Handling Stress in Uncertain Times.” The virtual event, presented by the UNMC Wellbeing Coordinating Council, will run from 1 to 2:15 p.m. via Zoom.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., will provide a brief introduction, and Steven Wengel, M.D., assistant vice chancellor for campus wellness for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Sarah Richards, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine and medical director of patient and provider experience for Nebraska Medicine, will share resilience-building skills. They will be joined by Jennifer Caspari, Ph.D., who will lead the attendees on a “body scan” relaxation technique, and Jessica Koran, Ph.D., who will discuss a novel group discussion format she has created.

Virtual attendees will better understand signs of anxiety and distress and be given practical, concrete skills they can use to promote their well-being, including a personalized well-being roadmap.

Drs. Wengel and Richards also will highlight positive repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, including new volunteer activities and student support programs that have been developed in response to the pandemic.

The presentation will conclude with a 15-minute, moderated question and answer session.