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Students and Parents

Social Emotional Learning and Wellness

Students and Parents/Guardians: This page offers links to information for students on strategies to practice mindfulness and wellness, along with resources to help themselves and others in a mental health crisis.


If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, you can call 911 or go directly to your local emergency room.

Who Do I Connect With For Help?

  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (text "HELLO" to 741741) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential. More info.
     
  • Contact the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ Youth: Reach out to a counselor trained to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Call 866-488-7386, text "START" to 678678, or chat online anytime you need support. Contact us here. If you are thinking about suicide, or feeling lonely, we are here to listen.
     
  • National Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for young people in crisis through a network of qualified agencies, trained volunteers. Call 888-290-7233 or text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 4HELP (44357). More info.
     
  • Emergency Services Program: If you or a family member are experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis, the Emergency Services Program/Mobile Crisis Intervention (ESP/MCI) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Anyone may contact ESP/MCI for assistance. Call toll-free at 1 (877) 382-1609, anytime, day or night.
     
  • Additional hotlines and online resources: This helpful list provides numerous resources to support teens with mental health struggles.of our

Click to read brochure.

First page of the PDF file: SOSBrochure2022

How Do I Help A Friend?

  • How to Help a Friend: Recognizing Warning Signs. Know the 10 common warning signs that occur when a student is struggling with mental health. Learn how to be supportive. Read more.
     
  • Getting and Giving Help. Where to turn for help when you need it, and how to help a friend in need on a variety of issues. Read more.
     
  • Talking to a Friend. What to say if you are worried about a friend or if that friend approaches you for support. Read more.

Mindfulness Strategies

  • Mindfulness and Your Phone: The average mobile phone user checks their device over 200 times per day! How can you be more mindful about using your device and reflecting on the role it plays in your life? Read more.
     
  • The Adolescent Brain: Dr. Dan Siegel, professor of psychiatry and leading expert on adolescent brain changes, provides an overview on the developing brains of teenagers. View more. 
     
  • Coping with Challenges: This site offers some great ideas for coping with and managing a wide range of challenges for young adults. Read more.
     
  • Mental Health Stigma: What is mental health stigma? For a better understanding, take this online quiz.

How Do I Manage Stress?

  • I'm So Stressed! Feeling overwhelmed? Read this fact sheet to learn whether it's stress or anxiety and what you can do to cope.
     
  • What is Stress and What Can I Do? You are not alone. Everyone feels stressed out at times -- adults, teens, and even kids. But you can avoid getting stressed out by handling everyday pressures and problems through staying calm, asking for help when you need it, and making time to relax. Read more.
     
  • Advice: From dealing with parental divorce to taking tests, here is advice for teens on common stressful situations. Read more.
     
  • Staying Grounded: For people struggling with anxiety or trauma, we often launch ourselves on the anxiety train and our minds go elsewhere. The following exercise can help you calm down and retrain your body and mind to stay grounded. Read more.

Additional Mental Health Resources for Parents/Guardians

  • Community Health Network: If you’re worried that your child is experiencing severe stress, depression or other mental health concerns, including suicide, this site includes resources to help start the conversation with your child.
     
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts:  The mission of NAMI Massachusetts is to improve the quality of life for people diagnosed with mental health conditions and their families. We seek to improve the public’s awareness and understanding of mental health conditions and ensure that all people impacted by a mental health condition receive the support they need in a timely fashion. Read more.
     
  • Child Mind Institute:  If you have a child struggling with mental health or learning challenges, getting sound, clear information is the first step to getting good care.  Child Mind Institute is a leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, educational resources, advocacy, and research. Read more.
     
  • Kids Health: Help your child cope with life's ups and downs, from dealing with divorce to preparing for new siblings. Read more.
     
  • Williams James College Referral Service: This helpline can connect families with counseling services. Learn more online or call 1-888-244-6843 (toll free); 1-617-332-3666 (local) Monday through Friday from 9am – 5pm.
     
  • Families for Depression Awareness: Families for Depression Awareness helps families recognize and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to get people well and prevent suicides. We offer education, training, and support to unite families and help them heal while coping with mood disorders. Read more.