During a very difficult time for teens’ mental health, Grayslake Central takes a great deal of action, providing support groups, awareness programs, and much more, personalized to fit every student’s needs.
It’s not easy to be a teen these days. With one in seven people in the age group of 10-19 undergoing a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization, its extremely important to provide as much care as possible to teens. Fortunately, GCHS offers both quality and quantity when it comes to taking care of students’ mental health. Here are some key things to know about the programs that they run.
Help is always available:
No matter what you’re going through, someone is always available to talk to you at GCHS. You can join support groups at any time, but you’re never required to come. Along with support groups, counselors are also available at all times. Kate Oldenburg, GCHS’s Prevention and Wellness Coordinator said, “Students that I have a connection with will come to my office here, we also have that hallway of counselors and social workers… there’s always somebody available.”
They are constantly changing for the needs and wants of students:
Along with the personalized counseling, support groups and other programs never stay the same. “We’re always keeping track of what students are dealing with… we pretty much are constantly making sure that our services are matching the needs of our students… for example, groups. There’s some years I’ve run multiple of the same type of group because the students requested it, and then, other years that group doesn’t even run, because no students request it,” Oldenburg said.
No information is ever shared without your consent:
There is often hesitancy in students to be open about what they’re going through, and that’s why it’s extremely important to know that everything you share is between you and whoever you directly say it to. “My biggest, biggest rule of any support group is that it is confidential. Nobody is to talk about anything that’s said in this room, and nothing leaves this space, and that students are confident and comfortable that they have a safe space here,” Oldenburg said.
Grayslake Central partners with many organizations:
GCHS partners with multiple local mental health organizations and programs.
Erica’s Lighthouse – A depression education and awareness organization
Mental Health First Aid – A certification process that all sophomores at Grayslake Central complete, that trains students to recognize when they or someone else is experiencing a mental health concern, and how to take initiative.
Green Dot – A violence prevention program in sophomore Health classes
Central really does a lot for the benefit of students’ mental health. They implement mental health awareness into curriculums, provide availability for more personalized sessions. They are constantly adjusting to fit the interests of students, and they are always confidential. Help is always available at Central.
