Numerous school shootings across the United States have prompted discussion about possible contributing factors, one of those being mental health. On campus, students should be aware of the resources available to them and how to access these resources.
Peer Listeners Program
For over 30 years, the Peer Listener Program has served students and staff who are facing mental, emotional and physical challenges.
“There’s a lot of stress, especially for getting good grades and going to good colleges,” Peer Listeners Director Ms. Susan Hook said. “We are a wonderful community and we try to help students so they don’t get lost in a crowd.”
The program accepts referrals from students, staff, parents or community members who identify students as needing help coping with stress or more challenging issues.
Directors and advisors train Peer Listeners in active listening, conflict resolution and prevention of crisis situations.
To speak with a Peer Listener, look for students sporting a Peer Listener t-shirt, visit the Peer on Duty at the counseling office or fill out a Peer Listener request form (found in the front office, counseling office and library) to schedule a meeting for a later date.
Counselor’s Office
The counseling office has a number of resources, and one of the services counselors provide is student support.
If a student prefers to speak with an adult instead of a peer, they are welcome to walk-in to the counseling office or schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor.
There are specific procedures that the counselors must follow based on the student’s issue and the severity of the student’s situation.
If the counselors are unable to assist with the problem, they will hand off the case to the school psychologist or contact the student’s parents in search of outside support. The counseling office has activities throughout the school year, such as Mindfulness Meetups before finals week and occasional yoga sessions to provide stress relief and maintain mental health on campus.
“I think it’s important to be proactive,” Counselor Ms. Deanne Sciarrotta said. “We can do lunch time and afterschool workshops so that we can reach students before things get serious and provide resources to them.”
School Psychologist
If students or staff are ever seeking assistance on how to cope with life issues and mental health problems, they can visit the counseling office and inquire about a meeting with School Psychologist Ms. Sandra Aguilar, who is located is accessible through Computer Lab 2.
Ms. Aguilar is a trained professional when it comes to working with students and staff, and she offers counseling services and support for students who are facing stress or a crisis.
“I think it is very important to have mental health programs on campus, because we need to learn how to regulate and manage stress on a day-to-day basis,” Ms. Aguilar said. “Knowing how to adequately cope, manage and regulate emotions and stress is very beneficial to our mental health.”
Along with counseling, Ms. Aguilar also diagnoses potential special education students and communicates with teachers, parents, students and outside organizations about the mental health of students.