This month we went around to various teachers and staff to ask them questions about students and their mental health. Here are their answers!
What is one way students can quickly improve their mental state?
- Mrs. Jefferson: “Getting outside, sunlight, being around positive people, exercise.”- school nurse
- Mrs. Holley: “I think for a lot of students it’s talking to friends, it depends. If you are at home it can be going on a walk, at school it can be a calming room or talking to a counselor.”
- Coach Foos: “Listening to music or talking to a friend.”
- Mrs. Robertson: “Sometimes just stop and take a breath and think about the next step. It’s not all doom and gloom.”
Who can students talk to if they have questions or need help with their own mental being?
- Mrs. Jefferson: “Counseling, the nurse or a close teacher they feel like they can confide in.”
- Mrs. Holley: “School counselors, trusted adult, coach, nurse, teachers.”
- Coach Foos: “Teachers, counselors and trusted adults.”
- Mrs Robertson: “Our school counselors are trained experienced professionals and they do amazing things for our students everyday.”
How can students prevent suicide prevention?
- Mrs. Holley: “I think the biggest thing is to be able to talk about it and to have a good support system in your friends.”
- Coach Foos: “Getting educated on it, PE and health does a lesson on it. Friends and teachers can be aware of their peers, noticing withdrawal. Our job is to teach people the signs and not to be afraid to speak up.”
- Mrs. Robertson: “If they have a friend that they think is in trouble they need to reach out to the counselor or the prevention line. If they know something they need to say something.”
What do you do if you know somebody or yourself is going to commit suicide?
- Mrs. Holley: “Immediately tell someone, come to counseling, send concerns to silents thoughts. It depends on how urgent it is, but don’t wait. You could also tell a teacher and the counselor will pull the student.”
- Coach Foos: “To refer them to a guidance, report it, look for shifts in mood either way.”
What are the main causes of suicide?
- Mrs. Holley: “Not feeling accepted, feeling left out, not getting good sleep, not fitting in and not knowing where your place is.”
- Mrs. Robertson: “Students need to realize that nothing is so bad that it can’t be fixed. There is a solution or help for anything.”
What are some resources that students can use to learn more about suicide prevention?
- Mrs. Jefferson: “Hotline counseling services, therapy, a close friend, positive people.”
- Mrs. Holley: “So there is the 988 helpline, if they are in a moment of desperation and they need that hump of help or they need to talk to someone immediately to know they aren’t alone. Also not being afraid to talk about it, and using online resources”
- Coach Foos: “Any fliers or info from counselors, health class, chat websites, online articles. We try to promote it because mental health is a big thing here.”
- Mrs. Robertson: “School counselor, they know the resources and resources in the county”
