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Youth Mental Health

This series focuses on students’ mental health, the sources of their distress, and how schools and communities can help.

Biggest individual donation ever will support mental health

East Grand Rapids Beth Heinen Bell

A record-setting gift is poised to make a significant difference in the mental health and well-being of East Grand Rapids students...

‘Your emotions matter’

Wyoming Erin Albanese

Students are learning that all emotions matter and that recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing and regulating them helps them and others...

Connecting through circles

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Kentwood’s approach to restorative practices is about equity, inclusion...

‘We can do this together’

Thornapple Kellogg Allison Poosawtsee

A new student-initiated mental health club at Thornapple-Kellogg High School is encouraging peers to be proactive about seeking help...

The money’s there for students’ mental-health struggles. The people aren’t

Youth Mental Health Charles Honey

Pandemic-fueled student anxiety and depression are overloading school mental-health services...

Named West Michigan Counselor of the Year by the West Michigan Counseling Association, Bari Kane strives to build relationships with her students, be a good listener and resource for mental health support...

Students open up concerning issues impacting their lives

Youth Mental Health Alexis Stark

Mental health issues a major factor for teens...

Elementary reflections: ‘Everyone matters because they are special’

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

West Godwin students take a page from Christian Robinson’s book to reflect on their unique contributions to their school and community...

Local students respond to Oxford shootings: ‘This should not be normal’

Youth Mental Health Morgan Jarema

Area students share their thoughts in the wake of the latest U.S. school shooting, this time fewer than 200 miles away...

Learning opportunities for student social-emotional and mental-health support

All Districts Kirsten Myers, director of special education, Kent ISD

Special Education Director Kirsten Myers shared the following list of Kent ISD resources that was sent out to special-education and other administrators throughout Kent County following last week’s mass shooting at Oxford High School...

Positive behavior: that’s the ticket

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Through incentives such as tickets for good behavior, West Godwin is seeing good results from a positive-behavior intervention program...

Fitnesspalooza boosts minds, bodies, one another

Cedar Springs Beth Heinen Bell

A mental and physical wellness day in Cedar Springs taught sixth-graders how to cope with stress and advocate for their peers...

New curriculum helps students understand how emotions impact learning

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The district created a committee last year to review its social-emotional learning curriculum by defining a vision, considering why it is important and what the district hopes to achieve...