Now, the National Association of Secondary School Principals has launched a two-pronged campaign: to raise awareness about the solutions principals are mounting in response to rising need, and to encourage principals to lobby for more funds to improve mental health services in schools.
“We’re dealing with issues like depression, #addiction, #drugprevention, #mentalillness, #suicide, social media, school safety issues, and so much more,” Jennifer Silva, NASSP’s director of external relations, said this week during a webinar to an audience of mostly school leaders.
“These are not nice-to-have things,” said Ronn Nozoe, the organization’s chief executive officer. “These are not luxury-type things. These are essential services and supports that people need in order to just be the best versions of themselves.”
Pinpointing challenges and developing solutions
Aaron Eyler, who leads Matawan Regional High School in Matawan, N. J., said principals were in a unique position to spot concerns and see whether proposed solutions are working.
Some, he said, aren’t.
“We’re having a very difficult time making sure that we are able to assist students and maintain a safe environment for everybody,” he said. “I don’t want to make it seem like it is a doom-and-gloom situation that’s taking place within schools. It’s just a matter of the need and the urgency to address a lot of what young people are experiencing on a day-to-day basis.”
#Bullying remains a big issue, exacerbated by the ubiquity of cell phones and social media, he said. It used to be easier for a student to disengage from a negative situation. Today, bullying can continue online and on #socialmedia, he said. #Adults must help kids learn how to disconnect—and model that #behavior themselves, he said.
“I really believe that one of the biggest obstacles that we have right now is trying to teach #kids the ability to disconnect from the virtual world,” he said.
John Gies, the principal of Shelby High School in Shelby, Ohio, has been bringing #mentalhealthresources onto campus. His school has a partnership with a local agency that sends counselors to school, eliminating the need for students to get referrals. The school can also call a #counselor during an emergency, removing wait times for students who are struggling.
Colleagues in nearby districts have told Gies that it can take up to six weeks for them to secure that kind of assistance for students, he said.
His school has also developed specialized support for a small group of students who are deemed at risk, who meet with a counselor once a week. And next year, Gies’ county will pay for 20 hours of counseling services for every school in the county, he said.
Around the state, he said, schools are trying to respond with the resources they have, including creating “Wellness Wednesdays” or carving out time in the regular school day for students to catch up on school work, participate in clubs and other activities, such as pep rallies or school assemblies. Some are bringing in animals to help calm students. All are aimed at boosting well-being and belonging.
Some districts are prioritizing equity, student involvement, and student voice as key components of their mental health strategy.
His advice to school leaders? “Really, just to be there with them, as we’re doing this journey together.”
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
The NASSP, which also oversees the National Honor Society and the National Student Council, has tried to live by that advice as it’s designed its awareness and advocacy campaign.
The association invited high school students to Virginia last year for a mental health summit to brainstorm solutions to challenges they were facing in their schools.
Jeremias Castillo, a high school senior in Newark who joined the webinar, stressed the importance of school leaders engaging parents in the mental health conversation. They must also ensure students knew about the mental health supports available on campus.
Castillo only found out his school had a social worker after his father died in 2021 while schools were still remote during the #pandemic, he said.
But he was among the lucky ones. Even if he didn’t know about the resources at his school, they were available; some students attend schools without those supports, he said.
Part of de-stigmatizing mental health is reaching out to primary advocates—#parents, he said.
“A lot of times, especially in households where there are low resources, there are other priorities,” he said. “But [that] should be a priority that’s brought up because you can’t give what you don’t have.”
Eyler, the New Jersey principal, agreed that principals and school leaders had an obligation to ensure that students knew about on-campus help. One way they can do so is treating those providing mental health on the level of administrators—sending an important signal.
“It says, ‘Wow, you know, the principal really listens to what these people have to say,’” Eyler says.
Weaving a web of support
The webinar also featured additional experts and resources for #principals, from a variety of federal and national organizations.
Caren Howard, the director of policy and advocacy for Mental Health America, noted that nearly 40 percent of the people who use the organization’s online screening tools for conditions like for #anxiety, #depression, #eatingdisorders, or psychosis, are younger than 18, and that there’s often huge gap between when mental health symptoms present and when someone receives treatment. Signs of mental health problems show up in about 50 percent of people by the time they’re 14 years old, she said.
“Closing that gap means we need more mental health education in schools, more accommodations, and supports that precede services, such as peer support for #mentalhealth, sick days and grace periods for making up work, or taking tests virtually, depending on what a student’s individuals needs are,” Howard said.
Schools, she said, need qualified professionals to provide culturally responsive care to #students to work with students. #Black and #Latino students are more likely to access #mentalhealthservices when they’re provided at school because doing so removes barriers they may face in finding #mentalhealthcare in the community, she said.
“We know that educators and #school personnel are the first line of defense and are really carrying a strong load, and a heavy load, in helping to carry along our young people,” Howard said. “Sometimes the difference between a young person who has a #mentalhealthcondition or an emotional disturbance,” and whether or not they have a #mentalhealthcrisis, “is whether they have a caring #adult in their life.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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