COVID-19 is truly an unprecedented event, forcing nearly four billion people into isolation, soci... more COVID-19 is truly an unprecedented event, forcing nearly four billion people into isolation, social distancing, and requiring people to rigorously follow public health measures such as frequent hand washing and indoor face-covering. People around the world have spent months staying home-bound, enduring significant financial, social, and emotional costs. They have been feeling anxious, irritable, afraid, and ambivalent in the wake of an invisible, pervasive, and potent pandemic. A strength focus can help us mitigate unwarranted or excessive negative emotions engendered by maintaining social distancing. This paper posits that by using our strengths, we can enhance our psychological immunity through pragmatic actions to enhance our daily wellbeing. More importantly, we can reframe and reappraise challenges to build perspective in dealing with global crises such as pandemics and disasters. Strengths expressed through pragmatic actions can boost our coping skills as well as enhance our wellbeing. Consistent with the zeitgeist of our times-equity, social justice, digital connections, the paper offers easily implemented, concrete actions using character strengths in adaptive ways to reduce the likelihood that social distancing will result in overwhelming anxiety, lack of structure or stimulation, and demoralization.
As positive psychology has developed as a field, questions have arisen around how to ensure best ... more As positive psychology has developed as a field, questions have arisen around how to ensure best practice, including with respect to ethics. This issue is particularly pertinent vis-à-vis its applied dimensions, such as positive psychology interventions by students and graduates of MAPP programmes. However, the field has hitherto lacked clear ethical guidelines to assist practitioners. Aiming to address this gap, the authors have devised a set of guidelines, in collaboration with key stakeholders across the positive psychology community, published in the International Journal of Wellbeing. The current article briefly summarises the importance, development, content, and future directions of these guidelines, thus providing a concise overview of this important project. It is hoped that this article, together with the guidelines themselves, will not only highlight the importance of ethical practice, but offer practical suggestions for guiding practitioners in the field.
A strengths-based approach, as espoused in this project, presents a paradigm shift for post-secon... more A strengths-based approach, as espoused in this project, presents a paradigm shift for post-secondary education - from failure prevention and survival mindset to one that promotes flourishing and a resilient perspective. Rather than focusing exclusively on academic challenges, deficits and vulnerabilities, our approach emphasizes strengths, talents and abilities that students bring as they transition to post-secondary. Instead of assessing what students lack academically and accelerating their successful graduation through academic remediation, the strengths-based approach focuses on gradual self-awareness and self-development.
For millennials, the campus remains a hub where their intellectual, social, and creative resources converge at a developmental crossroad, one which perhaps will never come again in their lives. Therefore, it is the campus’ responsibility, as well as opportunity to set conditions “right and ripe” whereby students both master theories and theorems inscribed in books and learn skills to deal with their toughest challenges by developing resilience and persistence. Millennials will benefit from evidence-based practices to building their resilience. If there is one place that can systematically build these skills, it is the campus.
At such a campus, they acquire strategies to turn credentials into careers and learn skills to bounce back from setbacks. They turn challenges into opportunities and commitments into callings. They do not just meet in social media forums but meet face-to-face to refine their critical reasoning, social and emotional intelligence, problem-solving and relationship skills to sustain flourishing lives and face inevitable challenges, with resilience
Campus Mental Health in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: Data-informed Challenges and Opportunities, 2020
Higher education all over the world has been facing tremendous challenges
regarding the mental he... more Higher education all over the world has been facing tremendous challenges regarding the mental health of students, further exacerbated by COVID-19. The Campus Mental Health Community of Practice from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services has been surveying counselling centre evolving needs and trends for the past two years. In April 2020, the survey was modified to reflect COVID-19 realities. More than 60 PSIs participated in this survey, with representation from each of the ten provinces and territories and colleges (24%). The data has allowed to compare the COVID-19 related challenges with prior data and information from emerging practices at an international level. Specifically, the survey results share webinar perceptions of student mental health from the perspective of campus mental health service professionals / administrators and student affairs administrators. The findings illustrate how students have embraced or continue to face challenges in adapting to remote mental health services delivery. We also share challenges faced by postsecondary institutions in making their mental health services amenable to online adaptation and outline specific infrastructural needs, at the various and ongoing phases of COVID-19 pandemic. This report presents synthesized perspectives on crisis management, how to respond to most vulnerable students, ensuring accessibility, inclusion and ethos of social justice from multiple perspectives. These include voices of from nationally representative sample of mental health professional and insights from emerging research findings. Towards the end of this report, we have consolidated these perspectives to offer pragmatic ideas, suggestions and recommendations to leave our readers with ideas for actions to shape their campus based mental health services according to the evolving circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully cognizant and sensitive to ongoing challenges of campus-based mental health professionals face to balance professional duties and personal care to prevent burnout. This report includes a number of appendices including student’s narratives, 25 salient articles, summarized with key insights with practice implications, COVID-19 related psychological measures, COVID-19 related mental health resources at various PSIs and list of free apps and web platforms.
COVID-19 is truly an unprecedented event, forcing nearly four billion people into isolation, soci... more COVID-19 is truly an unprecedented event, forcing nearly four billion people into isolation, social distancing, and requiring people to rigorously follow public health measures such as frequent hand washing and indoor face-covering. People around the world have spent months staying home-bound, enduring significant financial, social, and emotional costs. They have been feeling anxious, irritable, afraid, and ambivalent in the wake of an invisible, pervasive, and potent pandemic. A strength focus can help us mitigate unwarranted or excessive negative emotions engendered by maintaining social distancing. This paper posits that by using our strengths, we can enhance our psychological immunity through pragmatic actions to enhance our daily wellbeing. More importantly, we can reframe and reappraise challenges to build perspective in dealing with global crises such as pandemics and disasters. Strengths expressed through pragmatic actions can boost our coping skills as well as enhance our wellbeing. Consistent with the zeitgeist of our times-equity, social justice, digital connections, the paper offers easily implemented, concrete actions using character strengths in adaptive ways to reduce the likelihood that social distancing will result in overwhelming anxiety, lack of structure or stimulation, and demoralization.
As positive psychology has developed as a field, questions have arisen around how to ensure best ... more As positive psychology has developed as a field, questions have arisen around how to ensure best practice, including with respect to ethics. This issue is particularly pertinent vis-à-vis its applied dimensions, such as positive psychology interventions by students and graduates of MAPP programmes. However, the field has hitherto lacked clear ethical guidelines to assist practitioners. Aiming to address this gap, the authors have devised a set of guidelines, in collaboration with key stakeholders across the positive psychology community, published in the International Journal of Wellbeing. The current article briefly summarises the importance, development, content, and future directions of these guidelines, thus providing a concise overview of this important project. It is hoped that this article, together with the guidelines themselves, will not only highlight the importance of ethical practice, but offer practical suggestions for guiding practitioners in the field.
A strengths-based approach, as espoused in this project, presents a paradigm shift for post-secon... more A strengths-based approach, as espoused in this project, presents a paradigm shift for post-secondary education - from failure prevention and survival mindset to one that promotes flourishing and a resilient perspective. Rather than focusing exclusively on academic challenges, deficits and vulnerabilities, our approach emphasizes strengths, talents and abilities that students bring as they transition to post-secondary. Instead of assessing what students lack academically and accelerating their successful graduation through academic remediation, the strengths-based approach focuses on gradual self-awareness and self-development.
For millennials, the campus remains a hub where their intellectual, social, and creative resources converge at a developmental crossroad, one which perhaps will never come again in their lives. Therefore, it is the campus’ responsibility, as well as opportunity to set conditions “right and ripe” whereby students both master theories and theorems inscribed in books and learn skills to deal with their toughest challenges by developing resilience and persistence. Millennials will benefit from evidence-based practices to building their resilience. If there is one place that can systematically build these skills, it is the campus.
At such a campus, they acquire strategies to turn credentials into careers and learn skills to bounce back from setbacks. They turn challenges into opportunities and commitments into callings. They do not just meet in social media forums but meet face-to-face to refine their critical reasoning, social and emotional intelligence, problem-solving and relationship skills to sustain flourishing lives and face inevitable challenges, with resilience
Campus Mental Health in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: Data-informed Challenges and Opportunities, 2020
Higher education all over the world has been facing tremendous challenges
regarding the mental he... more Higher education all over the world has been facing tremendous challenges regarding the mental health of students, further exacerbated by COVID-19. The Campus Mental Health Community of Practice from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services has been surveying counselling centre evolving needs and trends for the past two years. In April 2020, the survey was modified to reflect COVID-19 realities. More than 60 PSIs participated in this survey, with representation from each of the ten provinces and territories and colleges (24%). The data has allowed to compare the COVID-19 related challenges with prior data and information from emerging practices at an international level. Specifically, the survey results share webinar perceptions of student mental health from the perspective of campus mental health service professionals / administrators and student affairs administrators. The findings illustrate how students have embraced or continue to face challenges in adapting to remote mental health services delivery. We also share challenges faced by postsecondary institutions in making their mental health services amenable to online adaptation and outline specific infrastructural needs, at the various and ongoing phases of COVID-19 pandemic. This report presents synthesized perspectives on crisis management, how to respond to most vulnerable students, ensuring accessibility, inclusion and ethos of social justice from multiple perspectives. These include voices of from nationally representative sample of mental health professional and insights from emerging research findings. Towards the end of this report, we have consolidated these perspectives to offer pragmatic ideas, suggestions and recommendations to leave our readers with ideas for actions to shape their campus based mental health services according to the evolving circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully cognizant and sensitive to ongoing challenges of campus-based mental health professionals face to balance professional duties and personal care to prevent burnout. This report includes a number of appendices including student’s narratives, 25 salient articles, summarized with key insights with practice implications, COVID-19 related psychological measures, COVID-19 related mental health resources at various PSIs and list of free apps and web platforms.
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Papers by Tayyab Rashid
education - from failure prevention and survival mindset to one that promotes flourishing and a resilient
perspective. Rather than focusing exclusively on academic challenges, deficits and vulnerabilities, our
approach emphasizes strengths, talents and abilities that students bring as they transition to post-secondary.
Instead of assessing what students lack academically and accelerating their successful graduation through
academic remediation, the strengths-based approach focuses on gradual self-awareness and self-development.
For millennials, the campus remains a hub where their intellectual, social, and creative resources converge
at a developmental crossroad, one which perhaps will never come again in their lives. Therefore, it is the
campus’ responsibility, as well as opportunity to set conditions “right and ripe” whereby students both master
theories and theorems inscribed in books and learn skills to deal with their toughest challenges by developing
resilience and persistence. Millennials will benefit from evidence-based practices to building their resilience. If
there is one place that can systematically build these skills, it is the campus.
At such a campus, they acquire strategies to turn credentials into careers and learn skills to bounce back from
setbacks. They turn challenges into opportunities and commitments into callings. They do not just meet in
social media forums but meet face-to-face to refine their critical reasoning, social and emotional intelligence,
problem-solving and relationship skills to sustain flourishing lives and face inevitable challenges, with
resilience
Books by Tayyab Rashid
regarding the mental health of students, further exacerbated by COVID-19.
The Campus Mental Health Community of Practice from the Canadian
Association of College and University Student Services has been surveying
counselling centre evolving needs and trends for the past two years. In April
2020, the survey was modified to reflect COVID-19 realities. More than 60 PSIs
participated in this survey, with representation from each of the ten provinces and
territories and colleges (24%). The data has allowed to compare the COVID-19
related challenges with prior data and information from emerging practices at
an international level.
Specifically, the survey results share webinar perceptions of student mental
health from the perspective of campus mental health service professionals /
administrators and student affairs administrators. The findings illustrate how
students have embraced or continue to face challenges in adapting to remote
mental health services delivery. We also share challenges faced by postsecondary
institutions in making their mental health services amenable to
online adaptation and outline specific infrastructural needs, at the various
and ongoing phases of COVID-19 pandemic.
This report presents synthesized perspectives on crisis management, how to
respond to most vulnerable students, ensuring accessibility, inclusion and
ethos of social justice from multiple perspectives. These include voices of from
nationally representative sample of mental health professional and insights
from emerging research findings. Towards the end of this report, we have
consolidated these perspectives to offer pragmatic ideas, suggestions and
recommendations to leave our readers with ideas for actions to shape their
campus based mental health services according to the evolving circumstances
of COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully cognizant and sensitive to ongoing
challenges of campus-based mental health professionals face to balance
professional duties and personal care to prevent burnout. This report includes
a number of appendices including student’s narratives, 25 salient articles,
summarized with key insights with practice implications, COVID-19 related
psychological measures, COVID-19 related mental health resources at various PSIs and list of free apps and web platforms.
education - from failure prevention and survival mindset to one that promotes flourishing and a resilient
perspective. Rather than focusing exclusively on academic challenges, deficits and vulnerabilities, our
approach emphasizes strengths, talents and abilities that students bring as they transition to post-secondary.
Instead of assessing what students lack academically and accelerating their successful graduation through
academic remediation, the strengths-based approach focuses on gradual self-awareness and self-development.
For millennials, the campus remains a hub where their intellectual, social, and creative resources converge
at a developmental crossroad, one which perhaps will never come again in their lives. Therefore, it is the
campus’ responsibility, as well as opportunity to set conditions “right and ripe” whereby students both master
theories and theorems inscribed in books and learn skills to deal with their toughest challenges by developing
resilience and persistence. Millennials will benefit from evidence-based practices to building their resilience. If
there is one place that can systematically build these skills, it is the campus.
At such a campus, they acquire strategies to turn credentials into careers and learn skills to bounce back from
setbacks. They turn challenges into opportunities and commitments into callings. They do not just meet in
social media forums but meet face-to-face to refine their critical reasoning, social and emotional intelligence,
problem-solving and relationship skills to sustain flourishing lives and face inevitable challenges, with
resilience
regarding the mental health of students, further exacerbated by COVID-19.
The Campus Mental Health Community of Practice from the Canadian
Association of College and University Student Services has been surveying
counselling centre evolving needs and trends for the past two years. In April
2020, the survey was modified to reflect COVID-19 realities. More than 60 PSIs
participated in this survey, with representation from each of the ten provinces and
territories and colleges (24%). The data has allowed to compare the COVID-19
related challenges with prior data and information from emerging practices at
an international level.
Specifically, the survey results share webinar perceptions of student mental
health from the perspective of campus mental health service professionals /
administrators and student affairs administrators. The findings illustrate how
students have embraced or continue to face challenges in adapting to remote
mental health services delivery. We also share challenges faced by postsecondary
institutions in making their mental health services amenable to
online adaptation and outline specific infrastructural needs, at the various
and ongoing phases of COVID-19 pandemic.
This report presents synthesized perspectives on crisis management, how to
respond to most vulnerable students, ensuring accessibility, inclusion and
ethos of social justice from multiple perspectives. These include voices of from
nationally representative sample of mental health professional and insights
from emerging research findings. Towards the end of this report, we have
consolidated these perspectives to offer pragmatic ideas, suggestions and
recommendations to leave our readers with ideas for actions to shape their
campus based mental health services according to the evolving circumstances
of COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully cognizant and sensitive to ongoing
challenges of campus-based mental health professionals face to balance
professional duties and personal care to prevent burnout. This report includes
a number of appendices including student’s narratives, 25 salient articles,
summarized with key insights with practice implications, COVID-19 related
psychological measures, COVID-19 related mental health resources at various PSIs and list of free apps and web platforms.