Former congressman presents coping mechanisms for pandemic stress, anxiety in students

Empty classrooms, overworked health care employees, and communities divided over masking and vaccines became inescapable as Western Pennsylvania navigated its way through the covid-19 pandemic.

Tim Murphy, a licensed psychologist specializing in psychological trauma, said the pandemic experience has had a “devastating effect” on people’s physical, mental and emotional health. But he said there are ways to cope with its long-lasting impact.

Murphy spoke Monday at Westmoreland County Community College as part of the 2022 School Safety and Security Symposium — an all-day event organized by the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit.

He told attendees that stress and trauma that aren’t properly dealt with from such a life-changing, widespread disease like covid can lead to serious ramifications.

“(Stress) can destroy your immune system,” said Murphy of Upper St. Clair, who resigned in 2017 from office as a congressman after admitting to an extramarital affair.

“I screwed my life up big time,” Murphy confessed, but added he was able to rebuild.

Today, he is the clinical director of Fortis Future, a multidisciplinary treatment program for veterans, military and first responders coping with traumatic stress.

According to Joseph Rice, safety and security coordinator for WIU, the symposium was open to “anyone involved in working with kids,” such as school administrators, teachers, first responders, law enforcement an EMS personnel.

Rice of Leechburg said he believes kids are “amazingly resilient,” and they want to grow as they get older.

“It’s our job to help them see the positives, see the good, find what is working for them and help emphasize that, and find out what’s not working for them and help to either eliminate that or help them overcome those hurdles,” Rice said.

He hopes for the symposium to become an annual event for anyone interested in improving their school safety and security.

When schools shut down, students experienced social isolation, interrupted learning and fear of the disease — all of which negatively impacted their mood, thoughts and physical being, Murphy said.

“It can be hard to shake it unless you’re taking care of the whole system, the whole body,” Murphy said of recovering from covid-related stress and trauma. A singular traumatic event and prolonged stress can have “the same impact” over time on someone.

Murphy said everyone can and will hit a mental breaking point, so it’s important to build resilience, resistance and recovery tactics for before, during and after incidents.

He used the acronym FASTER — Fitness, Attitudes, Sleep, mental Training, healthy Eating and healthy Relaxation — to describe tools for children, parents and educators to use.

“Brain volume and efficiency increase with exercise,” Murphy said, “(so) you literally get smarter when you work out.”

Some positive impacts of the pandemic, according to Murphy, included overscheduled families finally spending time together, parents becoming more engaged in their kids’ learning and closer genuine connections with neighbors and friends.

Aaron Allen of Greensburg listened to Murphy’s presentation and also was a speaker on teens and social media at the symposium. He said he appreciated Murphy’s approach.

“He touches on a lot of great things that I think we’re all thinking about but now needs to be implemented,” Allen said of the presentation. “We all … suffered, but we’re focusing on the negative.”

Allen said Murphy gave the audience a “powerful” new perspective on things.

“I love his positivity when it comes to life after the pandemic,” Allen said.

Moving forward, Murphy said, “children need a lot of help with recovery,” especially following the “constant barrage” of images of the tragedies of covid that “weighed heavily” on students and their families.

“What’s gonna help people grow from this is … how can I be better — not despite this but because of this?” Murphy said. “How can I turn trauma into a source of strength?”

“We’re only aware of now instead of thinking of the opportunities for our future. There’s a lot of rich and wonderful things that are going to happen, and some problems are gonna happen, and that’s part of life.”