Among U.S. high school students in 2023, 40% reported persistent feelings of sadness (CDC). More and more teenagers are struggling with mental health issues, and students at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School are no exception. Over the past decade, AB has made significant strides in providing mental health resources to its students. When looking at current mental health at AB from both the student and staff perspective, it is clear that AB has come far in its development of various support systems. At the same time, it is crucial to think about what more can be done to aid students.
When discussing mental health in the present, it is perhaps the most important to focus on students, who are at the core of AB. One club in particular aiming to support students with the stress of school, sports, and extracurriculars is Active Minds. Run by Ms. Farrar and Ms. Dauphinais, Active Minds meets every other Wednesday from 3-4 P.M. in Room 162W. During their meetings, they enjoy making jewelry, coloring, playing Sudoku, listening to music, snacking, and doing other de-stressing activities. Especially after a busy school day, these leisure pastimes can help students wind down and take a break from stressors in their lives. In fact, Active Minds used to be called the Wellness Club, as their ultimate goal is to help create a healthy, safe student body that is aware of the symptoms and coping strategies for dealing with mental illness. Active Minds even holds an annual Out of the Darkness Walk, a suicide prevention march that promotes mental health awareness. The present health of AB also has a lot to do with the staff perspective.
The teachers and administrators who are involved in students’ everyday lives play a significant role in recognizing when a student may be struggling with their mental health and helping that student find the resources they need. In an interview with Ms. Hagopian and Mr. Chicko, they emphasized the importance of connection— connection with other students, connection with teachers, and connection between teachers. Right now, students attend seven different classes with seven different teachers, none of whom are tethered to each other. Creating a feeling of togetherness within a student’s daily schedule can foster stability and make students more comfortable with sharing their stressors. Examples of how AB has already implemented connection include the advisory program. During advisory, students can discuss a range of topics, from trivia to school events, with both their peers and students in other grades. This helps students build relationships with people they might not otherwise interact with, fortifying the AB community and allowing students to move out of their comfort zones in a facilitated way. Currently, AB is undertaking several actions to support students and increase mental health awareness.
For example, every year, Active Minds hosts an Out of the Darkness Walk under the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a march that seeks to raise awareness about mental health, especially in young people. Through donations, the AFSP is able to bring suicide education programs to local high schools and college campuses, create and facilitate support groups for survivors of suicide loss, and host events to showcase how suicide research can help reduce suicides in teenagers and young adults. Right now, the Out of the Darkness Walk has exceeded its $10,000 fundraising goal by $925, thanks to the help of groups like Active Minds. More broadly, the AFSP hosts walks in over 400 different communities nationwide, with one popular event being the Overnight Walk. During this experience, participants walk over sixteen miles from dusk till dawn, drawing attention to suicide awareness across the U.S. The Overnight Walk also reaches substantial fundraising milestones, as individuals and small teams must raise at least $1,000 to partake in the event. The AFSP’s ability to turn tragedy into hope is mirrored in Danny’s Place, a local non-profit organization in Acton that was formed after the death of Danny McCarthy in a 2003 car accident. Located on Mass Ave, Danny’s Place hosts an array of events, from board games for elementary schoolers to financial literacy classes for high schoolers. Danny’s Place is a safe space where students can talk about loss in the AB community. Similar to Active Minds, the non-profit is also a location where youth of all ages can meet, engage in social activities, and form connections with others (Katie Gorczyca, Danny’s Place). Overall, these initiatives reflect both AB’s past experiences and current commitment to assisting students with mental health and suicide prevention. AB has made meaningful progress in prioritizing student mental health through connection, awareness, and several support systems.
While initiatives like Active Minds, advisory, and community programs have strengthened the safety net for students, continued reflection and action are essential to ensure that every student feels seen and heard. So, what can you do to raise mental health awareness?