GREECE, N.Y. – Highschool could be a difficult time for teens- particularly in as we speak’s world, with the prevalence of social media platforms and cyber-bullying. That’s why the Greece Athena Excessive Faculty is launching a brand new initiative, the place college students and workers can textual content counselors any time, they want them. This system is obtainable by means of a partnership with Counslr.
The whole lot occurs on one app. College students and workers have entry to this free pilot program for the remainder of the varsity yr, and into the summer time. If all goes as deliberate, the district might undertake it for good.
The district stated it’s for each college students and workers, and dozens of downloads have been made to date. Principal Kelly Flagler stated they’ll have particular numbers on the finish of the varsity yr. This all comes as U.S. Surgeon Normal Vivek Murphy issued a warning, saying youngsters and youths are scuffling with their psychological well being. Social media, being one of the vital damaging contributors.
Flagler stated that is one cause they’ve finished away with cell telephones in school.
“There’s social anxieties they’re scuffling with to a point, however luckily we have now numerous help within the constructing,” she stated.
However their constructing is simply open throughout daytime hours. That’s the place the Counslr app comes into play. Whereas college students can’t entry telephones at school, the district is encouraging them to check out the app on their off-hours. It’s obtainable 24/7, 265 days a yr.
Dr. Christine Baker is Director of Scholar Providers and Faculty Enchancment. She stated the partnership launched in Might and goals to achieve college students who face every kind of obstacles.
“Waitlists, transportation to companies,” she stated. “That is one thing new and totally different that we haven’t explored earlier than, that we’re actually enthusiastic about.”
College students and workers can obtain the app without spending a dime. They enter their college and reply a short survey to get paired with a counselor.
The whole lot is confidential. However it’s possible you’ll be questioning, who’s my youngster going to be texting?
Counslr CEO, Josh Liss, stated they’ve a big supplier community unfold out throughout the nation.
“These are all licensed psychological well being professionals, licensed psychological well being counselors, social staff, licensed marriage and household therapists,” stated Liss.
He stated if any counselor notices an emergency, they’ve handoffs and security nets in-built. When the scholar makes an account, in addition they hand over a guardian contact.
“Everybody on the staff has both confronted a psychological well being problem, personally, or confronted one of their household or circle of associates,” stated Liss. “So, myself personally, I’ve handled my fair proportion in highschool and faculty. It’s robust being a pupil.”
It’s one thing that will’ve been a game-changer for him, when he was a pupil.
“This to me, is assembly an space we didn’t actually have earlier than,” stated Flagler. “The counselor app offers a service to all college students, once they want it on their phrases.”
Greece Athena is the one college in Monroe County utilizing the app. They’re additionally one of some different excessive faculties within the nation collaborating within the pilot program for this age group. Counslr has principally labored with faculties and universities. Liss stated they hope to launch particular person companies quickly.
The district will assess this system’s success on the finish of the summer time.