Following the Parkland shooting, many questions have been circulating. Education Specialist James Vanden Heuvel answered some of these common questions about mental health.
Owens: What is Northview doing to prevent mental illness?
Vanden Heuvel: In each of our buildings, we have counselors and social workers who know how to support students and families dealing with mental illness. This access to mental health professionals at their school allows students and parents to get help early and at the level that they need. Our counseling staff also know the resources available in our community to provide an additional layer of social/emotional support for students and families.
Owens: Where can the students go to talk about their problems?
Vanden Heuvel: Students have options for talking about their problems. We have a peer to peer program which offers students a trained peer listener who can assist by showing empathy, listening, and giving guidance to help the student dealing with distress. In addition to the peer to peer program, students have access to any number an of trusted adults within our school community, the guidance office is the perfect place to start.
Owens: Is Northview a safe environment in case something happens?
Vanden Heuvel: Safety is the number one goal of Northview public schools. It is essential that students and staff feel safe within their school. Feelings or perception of safety is often times a unique and personal emotion. Given the recent traumatic events in Florida, many students perceptions of the potential danger is elevated. When we hear about harm within the community we can easily feel an increase in concern about our safety. I believe Northview is a safe school. Our procedures, practices, and supports are based on the best practices locally and nationally. The whole school community has a responsibility to create not only the perception of safety but also safe schools.
Owens: How many students do you talk to per day?
Vanden Heuvel: I’m in a new role this school year titled Education Specialist. As a result, I work across the school district supporting our counselors and social workers as well as addressing the non-academic barriers that interfered with learning such as behavior, social/emotional, environmental (housing, food, clothing), and others. In this new role, I get to each of the schools (elementary, middle, high schools). Every day I talk with as many students as possible about their lives. This averages out to approximately 10-15 students a day.
Owens: What’s the overall plan for Northview future regarding mental health?
Vanden Heuvel: In my opinion, the overall plan should be to increase the well-being of our students, families, and staff related to their mental health. Students need to be taught the five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, positive relationship skills and responsible decision making. These skills need to be taught in all grade levels (K-12). This is our universal social emotional curriculum. As students get these important skills, they will be better equipped for dealing with the life stress. In addition, to this work our mental health professionals continue to meet monthly to build our skills, resources, and supports as a district dealing with mental health. We are also working to develop better access to mental health supports in our community. Our school district is focusing more on the “whole child” initiative which highlights the interconnectedness of the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive domains of each student.
