When a person hears the word "health", many times thoughts of exercise and nutrition come to mind. However, exercise and nutrition is only one component of health. Social and emotional well-being is also a vital part of adopting a healthy lifestyle. Logansport Junior High School (LJHS) focuses on developing the overall well-being of students. And how do we work to accomplish this goal? While academia is a high-priority, ignoring the effects of mental and social well-being on academic success can be detrimental. The fact is 1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder. But many of these disorders can go untreated or undiagnosed. Thus, addressing mental health issues is of great concern for teachers and administrators.
In order to address these types of issues, LJHS is working to implement socio-emotional learning within the classroom. According to Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, social-emotional learning is defined as "the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions". One way in which LJHS is working to incorporate SEL in the school is by providing students an opportunity to weekly check-in with counselors using the LJHS Junior Berry Check-In. By simply offering this type of continuous support, students will feel heard, seen, and safe. Here is a resource that could be helpful for developing social & emotional skills at home: 15 Activities for Teaching CASEL Core Competencies. For more information about SEL, you can also view the video below:
Finally, there are many local resources for mental health that are available for families. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these resources. The mental health of students is crucial for their success. LJHS is committed to partnering with families by providing resources and other services to build families, and in essence, build community here in Logansport and throughout the county. But we need your help by investing in the mental health of your student. A simple "How was your day" or "How are you feeling" can make a huge impact in their lives. But most importantly, positivity is critical for their emotional well-being. Take time today to ask yourself how you can be a positive role model students. Because at the end of the day, adolescents learn from their environment, and specifically, they learn from you!
Four County: a non-profit Community Mental Health Center serving the communities of North Central Indiana.
Aspire: a fully integrated health system that addresses behavioral health, primary care, substance use disorders, and the social determinants of health, including housing and employment.
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