In today’s world, focusing on the mental health of teenagers has a significant impact on their academic performances and well-being.
Ally Ibsen, the school’s new social worker, and Ainslee Kroenke, a school counselor, prioritize mental health. Both professionals play crucial roles in helping students navigate their mental health challenges, particularly when it comes to coming back into the school environment after absences due to mental health issues. They work closely with local mental health programs to ensure that students have access to essential resources.
Ibsen provided information on how the school handles mental health; students who are feeling down or need someone to talk to can go to the school social worker, a psychology teacher or a guidance counselor. Fremont High School offers therapy sessions during school hours.This makes it easier for students to get help whenever they need it, without worrying about transportation to the therapist’s office.
Fremont High School provides program training for teachers every year before the start of the school year. Teachers are required to complete an online course covering various models and including questions aimed at helping them recognize signs of suicide and understand what steps to take if they are concerned about a student. The course also ensures that everyone knows about resources such as the Safe2Help hotline, which allows students, staff, and parents to report concerning behavior anonymously. Additionally, the school provides information about the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Hotline details are even included on the back of student IDs and displayed around the school, making it easy and anonymous for students to seek help or report anything they perceive as unusual.
Fremont High School has teamed up with local groups like Lotus Behavioral Health and Lutheran Family Services to offer therapy and other support for students at school. Fremont is helping to normalize discussions about mental health and making it more convenient for students to access support by offering therapy sessions during school hours.
In addition to offering in-school therapy sessions, the FHS district has a plan to help students come back to school after being out for mental health reasons. This plan involves organizing a meeting to ensure that students can seamlessly transition back to school, make up for any missed work, and identify any additional support they may require. During this meeting, students collaborate with staff to create a personalized plan that highlights potential challenges, outlines the ways in which staff can offer assistance, and develops strategies for coping with difficult situations. Through this collaborative effort, the goal is to ensure that students feel supported and valued as they reintegrate into the school environment.
Fremont High School is dedicated to improve and promote student well-being by offering in-school therapy, preventive programs, and reintegration support to ensure that students have the resources and care they need to thrive both
academically and emotionally.
