Mental Wellness Q&A with Michelle Hirschy

By Jennifer Fogarty, communications content manager
Mental wellness includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. It’s also something we care deeply about at LJCDS. Michelle Hirschy, Upper School counselor, shares with Jennifer Fogarty, communications content manager, what programs are in place to support our students and what’s on the horizon.
 
Jennifer Fogarty: How did mental wellness become a topic of priority?
Michelle Hirschy: At the beginning of the school year, one of the first things I did was send Upper School students a needs assessment to gauge where they are and where they need support. It covered topics like stress, anger, feeling sad or depressed, trouble sleeping, fitting in at school, teasing/bullying and suicidal thoughts. An impressive 60 percent of students participated, and their responses drove our decisions of what groups to bring on campus to tackle topics of need.

JF: What kinds of mental wellness programs are in place to support students?
MH: We most recently started several programs with Sandy Hook Promise, an initiative to prevent gun violence before it happens. ImpACT on Stage, an improv group, run for students and by students, will perform interactive skits with Grades 9 and 11 in May. Topics will include speaking up when you see something, substance abuse, academic pressure, mental health, consent and LGBTQI issues. A TEDx speaker will attend advisory next month and talk about embracing imperfection as he shares his journey of self-acceptance. The National Alliance on Mental Illness spoke to the Mental Health Education student-led group that meets during flex time on how to reduce the stigma around mental health. We also had American Foundation for Suicide Prevention talk to faculty during a professional growth day.

Additionally, we are forming a relationship with Rady Children’s Hospital. Because we have the unique opportunity with Pre-K to Grade 12 students, we hope to create a curriculum that helps instill mental wellness for all ages. We could really hone in on a great educational program, establish something that doesn’t exist, and make it transferable to students everywhere.

JF: Tell us more about the different Sandy Hook Promise programs.
MH: While Sandy Hook Promise advocates for gun legislation, the bulk of their work is in school programming/curriculum and training around the idea of increasing mental wellness and preparedness. The free program offers direct training for our faculty and staff and multiple programs for our students.

Some of the programs we are implementing include:
  • Start with Hello: How to be more socially inclusive and connected to one another.
  • Signs of Suicide: How to recognize the warning signs of youth suicide, and how to intervene before violence or self-harm occurs.
  • Say Something: How to recognize signs, especially on social media, of an individual who may be a threat to themselves or others, and how to say something to a trusted adult to get them help. (Includes an anonymous reporting system.) 
  • Safety Assessment and Intervention: How to identify, assess and respond to threatening behaviors before they escalate to violence.

JF: Is this only for Upper School? What about Lower and Middle Schools?
MH: Mental wellness is something we need to start teaching even before children start school. Violence is preventable, and the best way to start is with our young people. All the programs will be based on age-appropriateness.

For example, the Start with Hello program will provide posters and stickers to get Lower and Middle Schoolers excited and provide reminders. We are also identifying a social-emotional framework that speaks to mindfulness and self-compassion for our students, teachers and community that is geared towards Lower and Middle Schoolers. This is all in addition to the current programs supporting mental wellness during community dialogue and life skills class with Ashley Marlow, Lower and Middle School counselor.

JF: What programs are available for parents/guardians?
MH: We will continue our community partnership by offering education for parents, including Coffee with the Counselors and specific programs through Sandy Hook Promise. Education is important to provide us with a common language. Communication barriers with teenagers can be challenging; we all know this. But if we are all speaking the same language with the same vocabulary, odds are we’re going to understand what the students are trying to tell us more so.
 
Back

La Jolla Country Day School

9490 Genesee Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-453-3440

© 2024 La Jolla Country Day School 

Privacy Policy

COVID-19 Prevention Plan

Country Day Connection Newsletter