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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.

Creating safe spaces

Kenowa Hills Alexis Stark

On a freezing February morning at Pathways High School, two speakers from Michigan non-profit i understand spoke to students about the importance of mental health...

Partnership continues focus on student emotional, mental health

All Districts Alexis Stark

A group is working to identify trauma and provide support early in order to increase student success...

Stress, studies and the pandemic: a steep learning curve

Rockford Alexis Stark

In response to the social and emotional impacts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockford’s Developing Healthy Kids Campaign wants students and families to know they are not alone...

Students find a quiet place to chill out: the hygge room

Rockford Charles Honey

A calming “hygge room” has become a popular part of Roguewood Elementary’s mental-health supports for students during the pandemic...

Helping students struggling with isolation-induced anxiety and other mental health issues

School 2.0 Charles Honey

Now that they can’t meet with students behind a closed door in their office, school mental health workers are finding other ways to help...

Supporting healthy relationships as ‘the root of all learning’

Caledonia Hannah Lentz

Vickie Swanson has had many roles in her two years with Caledonia Schools, all aimed at the goal of addressing mental health across the district...

On being an empathetic ear

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

Ben Sorota read a School News Network article about a group at another school, which led him to start a group of his own...

Onsite clinicians expand mental health services at middle schools

Youth Mental Health Erin Albanese

Principals and nurses are reporting that students are talking about more anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and stressful situations at home...

Student Services Team created to focus on mental health

Caledonia Hannah Lentz

The team will focus on additional staffing, community education, professional development and initiatives to maintain positive images of the importance of mental health...

GRCC counselors reach out to help students with mental health needs

Grand Rapids Community College Erin Albanese

Along with free, confidential one-on-one counseling, they offer a slate of general workshops and mind-body wellness events based on mindfulness, managing emotions, sleep and other topics...

Social worker reaches out to students, parents to meet mental health needs

Wyoming Erin Albanese

With one in five children experiencing a mental disorder nationally, extra support staff can help students and parents connect with the help they need...

Making it right to be real

Thornapple Kellogg Hannah Lentz

Thornapple Kellogg High School recently kicked off a series of assemblies building on the Making it Cool to be Kind program...

Lessons in how to handle grief take center stage at this elementary school

Cedar Springs Janice Holst

Staff at Cedar View Elementary find ways to help students understand and deal with grief...

Donation sparks program that helps students get counseling

Youth Mental Health Morgan Jarema

The program’s name, “Bridging the Gap,” comes from the decision to use the funds to help families pay for amounts not covered by insurance

Students Go for the Green in Social Learning

Caledonia Erin Albanese

It's easy being green. But blue, yellow and red? That's another matter. Special education students are learning to express how they feel and to identify...