Program Title: Resolving Family Conflict
Program Date: May 14, 2020
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jack Cahalane
Event Attendance: 17
On May 14, 2020, the NAHSE Pittsburgh Chapter hosted the first of a series of virtual forums focused on behavioral health and mental wellbeing to discuss how to effectively resolve family conflict. This discussion, led by Dr. Jack Cahalane of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, allowed participants the opportunity to gain valuable insight on how best to productively navigate interfamilial conflict. Participants gained tools to help them positively communicate, assign roles, and create routines to help their families thrive.
The COVID-19 epidemic has created a situation of constant uncertainty for many families. We have been forced to live life differently as we are truly experiencing this unprecedented shared trauma. Our collective behavioral health and wellbeing is being tested now more than ever. Families have been forced to adapt and spend more time together than ever before. While on the surface this is a great thing, there is real potential for conflicts to arise as we adjust to our new normal.
With the mounting stress of the crisis and ruined personal and familial routines, social distancing has taken away some of our natural breaks to be able to reset. Families have been forced to face and overcome things that might have been minor annoyances, irritants, or benign actions before COVID-19. Now these things are being magnified as a result of constantly being around our families.
Some of the tools presented include assigning roles for members of your family, conducting family meetings, taking your own temperature in the heat of the moment, trying not to force change on others, and allowing members of the family the opportunity to take time for themselves.
Intimate partner violence and family conflict are not the same thing. If you find yourself dealing with intimate partner violence or if you are feeling unsafe at home here are some resources that can help you:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- Resources for Life: 1-866-441-4395 (TTY:711)