
SAC Corner
Issue No. 11
Fall 2022
- 4,000+ ER visits for mental health conditions among teen girls compared to 2,400(ish) among teen boys.
- Suicide attempts were nearly 4x higher in teen girls than teen boys
- Overdoses involving opioids increased 27%
- Teen girls are experiencing record levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk
What do we do?
HSD recently held a guardian and parent information session on student mental health. In addition to resources provided for taking home, we also keyed in on some of what we are seeing. Some takeaway points are:
- that students report feeling relieved when they are restricted from phone/social media use for long periods of time (3+ days relief seems to set in)
- the increase in vaping, alcohol abuse (binge drinking/blackouts), and cannabis use is alarming - the students are using these things before the health curriculum teaches the dangers, they need more conversations about risks
- students are self-diagnosing, trickle down diagnosing/treating, and self-treating their believed diagnosis of anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc. - students who believe they are experiencing these things should seek out a licensed professional for confirmation and treatment.
- ask your teen flat out if they have ever considered suicide, if yes, find out how recently, if there is/was a plan, do they have access to means, have they ever attempted, etc. Then make a safety plan, and seek out professional help
- if your teen hasn't considered suicide, but does not already see a professional, you can ask if they have any desire to see a therapist - you might be surprised how many say yes. This can be a great preventative measure to allow steam out of the pot before reaching any crisis level.
- students report feeling immense pressure in academics and college, as well as not knowing about options other than college. Ask your teen if they want to go to college and/or if they want to explore other options too. Remind them that their peers here are not their competition, they're not likely to be applying to the same schools for the same programs.
Check out the US Surgeon General Advisory Below:
Summer Reminder
Below is a flyer for a youth quit group. Summer is a great time to seek out vaping education classes, quitting support, and kicking any addiction.
Summer is also great for mental health focus!
Being Proactive
Sensitive Content?
https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/ for books
http://www.doesthedogdie.com before watching a new movie, tv show, or reading a new book. It lists a wide variety of content warnings. It is public/user driven - like Wikipedia.
Make A Safety Plan!
- How they know when things aren't right for them
- What helps when things don't feel right
- Who/What are people/places for distraction
- Who are they willing to go to for help
- What are some crisis numbers
- What are some actions that can be done to make a safer environment
https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/SAMHSA_Digital_Download/PEP22-08-03-007.pdf
*Students present for the 5/15/23 homeroom activity received a TWLOHA Crisis Planning booklet with hotline numbers and a safety plan template to be completed and shared with a trusted adult*
Teen Mental Health Temperature Check
Take It Down
https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline/cybertiplinedata
The link above is a way to get it down.
Megan Thee Stallion
The website includes therapy connections, including free therapy, resources for suicide, crisis, substance use, and more specifically labeled ones such as for: LGBTQ+, Black Girls, Black Men, and more.
Vaping Education Online Class - Sign Up!
Have students go to everfi.com/register, enter code 8bdfd959 and click Next.
This is a Truth course supported by EverFi and monitored by our district SAC (me).
**Disclaimer**
They do provide a lot of free information and resources that I share when appropriate.
Missed an Issue?
2022 - 2023
Issue No. 2: https://www.smore.com/1mqk7
Issue No. 3: https://www.smore.com/1ypcm
Issue No. 4: https://www.smore.com/23j8h
Issue No. 5: https://www.smore.com/sn9uj
Issue No. 6: https://www.smore.com/pqxg3
Issue No. 7: https://www.smore.com/c8nv5
Issue No. 8: https://www.smore.com/0ucpg
Issue No. 9: https://www.smore.com/4zmev
issue No. 10: https://www.smore.com/xrj9m
2021-2022
Issue No. 1: https://www.smore.com/nejd3
Issue No. 2: https://www.smore.com/e3kc9
Issue No. 3: https://www.smore.com/r38nb
Issue No. 4: https://www.smore.com/am95v
Issue No. 5: https://www.smore.com/4xy68
Issue No. 6: https://www.smore.com/0xp39
Issue No. 7: https://www.smore.com/xhqf10-sac-corner
Issue No. 8: https://www.smore.com/5kw2u
Issue No. 9: https://www.smore.com/5z3n9
Issue No. 10: https://www.smore.com/2g9zf
Special Editions
Doxxing: https://www.smore.com/0x9nb
Haddonfield School District SAC - Holly Penna
Email: hpenna@haddonfield.k12.nj.us
Website: https://haddonfieldschools.org/
Location: A104 HMHS
Phone: 856-429-3960 . 1155