Embrace Pittsburgh
  • About
    • Founding Partners
    • Contact
  • MindHacks
    • Cope Ahead
    • Distracting Skills
    • Pro/Con List
    • Radical Acceptance
    • Self-Soothing
    • S.T.O.P.
  • Resources
    • COVID Resources
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Embrace the Movement
    • Pittsburgh KIND
    • Break The Ice
    • Postcards
    • The Bubble
Embrace Pittsburgh
  • About
    • Founding Partners
    • Contact
  • MindHacks
    • Cope Ahead
    • Distracting Skills
    • Pro/Con List
    • Radical Acceptance
    • Self-Soothing
    • S.T.O.P.
  • Resources
    • COVID Resources
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Embrace the Movement
    • Pittsburgh KIND
    • Break The Ice
    • Postcards
    • The Bubble

____________________________________________________

MindHacks is a program developed in partnership between the EMBRACE Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, and UPMC Western Behavioral Health. The project is rooted in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is designed to help middle school students develop a healthy mindset to enhance interpersonal relationships and connectedness, develop effective coping strategies, and improve overall well-being. 

The MindHacks video series produced and funded by EMBRACE Pittsburgh consists of short-form “MindHack” videos that feature thoughtful (and fun) coping skills through the eyes of professional athletes from Pittsburgh’s sports teams and beyond. Notable personalities include Corey Graves, WWE; Troy Palomalu, Pittsburgh Steelers; Erin Andrews, NFL Host and former Dancing with the Stars host; Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins; Jerome Bettis, HOF Pittsburgh Steelers Alumnus, and Colby Armstrong, NHL Analyst and Pittsburgh Penguins Alumnus. These ambassadors and role models discuss emotional conditions, practical tips to address them, and their favorite coping methods.

Each interactive lesson plan utilizes various teaching techniques, including instructional videos, group discussion, games, team-building activities, and practice of relaxation skills. The program maintains a close alignment with the PA Department of Education’s Career Ready Skills Continuum by teaching students self-awareness, relationship skills, and social problem-solving skills. Increasing students’ abilities to develop these skills can lead to future employability.

The prevention model program is designed to reach the mass population of children while additional layers of support are built into the model for any children who are identified as at-risk to ensure supportive intervention. The “train the trainer” program will provide the educator with tools to identify at-risk students and includes a road map for additional support options. Participation in the MindHacks program will assist educators in creating a positive school climate for greater engagement, fewer discipline problems, less bullying, less aggression, and better academic performance.

With the help of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, MindHacks will be distributed to 200 middle school students in the Fall of 2022. The program is projected to roll out to the remainder of Allegheny County Middle School students by Spring 2023 and has the potential to reach 24,000 students across 43 school districts within the county annually. For more information on how MindHacks can be utilized in your school or organization, please reach out to our team at info@citronefoundtion.org.


Pro/Con List
Checkout these MindHacks to consider the pros and cons of a stressful situation before reacting. See Video
Cope Ahead
Tame your anxiety by knowing yourself, knowing your triggers, and responding accordingly. See Video
Radical Acceptance
Accept all of the positivity that comes your way! See Video
Distracting Skills
Do you know that real anxious feeling you get sometimes and you aren't sure exactly what to do? See Video
Wise Mind
What does it take to be a "Wise Mind?" Check out our latest MindHack!  See Video
Soothing Extra
Erin Andrews shares what she does for her extra soothing!  See Video
S.T.O.P.
In part two of our MindHacks series, NFL Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis, introduces the STOP Skill. See Video
Self-Soothing
Parents, you are your child’s role model. Be sure to practice your own self-soothing skills and make time to talk to your kids about COVID, when they are ready. See Video

The program shares practical tips to help us:

(Hover over or touch a box below for more details)

Be Mindful
Be centered in this very moment
Be more effective in our relationships
Balance your wants and needs with the others in your family and be sure to ask others for what you need
Regulate emotions
Put emotions in perspective
Tolerate distress
Cope with the things you cannot change
Accept reality as it is
Completely and totally accept the situation as it is, acknowledging that your feelings about it are what they are

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