Between social media, international issues and school, students have a lot to think about. With this in mind, FHS’s social workers have organized a Mental Health Week in the first week of May.
“I hope that students find something that they’re like, ‘Okay, I can use this in my day-to-day life,” school social worker Hannah Cooper said. “That will help me with whatever degree of my mental health that I may need more support on.’”
Each day has a different event planned. On Monday, there will be a mental health fair during all lunches, where 13 organizations will have resources and information available to students. Tuesday and Thursday will feature safeTALK (Suicide Awareness For Everyone) training sessions. Students sign up through a Google form to attend, and need a permission slip from social workers Hannah Cooper, Michelle Evans or Audra Bell. Parents can also send an email for consent.
“[safeTALK] raises awareness of how to talk about suicide,” Cooper said. “If someone’s having those feelings or ideations, [it explains] what a peer can do and how to direct them accordingly.”
Students who can’t make either the Tuesday or Thursday sessions can go to their website and engage outside of school.
“[SafeTALK is] an organization you can get involved with outside of school, if you feel really passionate about it,” school counselor Renee Champagne said. “Somebody who wanted to get more involved, who couldn’t necessarily do the training, could participate at a community level too.”
MHW also offers parents a chance to learn more about how to manage their student’s mental health with a meeting on Wednesday evening.
On Friday, the incoming freshman cohorts will have a few different sessions to rotate through, like yoga, mental health kits, and a short movie.
“Your mental health is important,” Champagne said. “I think a lot of [students] know that, but sometimes kids will push it away until it gets to the point where things are really a struggle.”
Students who struggle with their mental health can ask the school social workers or their counselors for help. The following are additional resources for assistance and getting involved in the community.
