In a proactive effort to address mental health concerns among students, Chelsea High School is set to implement a new mental health training program this fall, aimed at saving student lives.
Following the tragic loss of four students to suicide within a 15-month period, a coalition comprising city officials, school administrators, and community leaders came together to devise strategies to raise awareness about mental health issues. The result is the Teen Mental Health First Aid Training Program.
The program, born out of a collective desire to prevent further tragedies, will equip students with the knowledge and skills to effectively respond if they encounter peers in mental health crises.
Cody Sumners, a board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, explained, “[It will teach them] how to approach them to talk about it, and if needed, how to get them help whether it’s finding them an adult they can talk to or getting them professional help.”
This voluntary program will be available to students throughout the school year, comprising a 4.5-hour training session offered during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd nine-week periods.
Collaborating organizations, including Compact and the Addiction Prevention Coalition, will engage approximately 60 students per class, spanning from freshmen to seniors.
Sumners emphasized the broader societal need to destigmatize mental health discussions, fostering a culture of empathy and support. “We hope that we can encourage students and everybody to talk about mental health issues and get rid of the stigma and understand that everybody is dealing with something… we need to have a little bit of compassion, look out for each and make things work.”
The initiative has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the city of Chelsea, the Shelby County Board of Education, and the Chelsea Mental Health Action Committee. Their collective aspiration is to expand the program to other school systems within the county, amplifying its impact and reach.
