At a recent Linn-Mar school board meeting, Julie Jensen, Executive Director of Student Services, provided information about the Student Assistance Team and a couple of ways it supports students.
One of the programs the team uses is called ACT, which stands for "Acknowledge. Care. Tell." Information about ACT was provided to students in a brochure supported by a number of nonprofit organizations devoted to helping people face emotional situations.
The program recognizes that high school is a challenging time. While a student can make great memories, there are also stressful times and stressful relationships, whether they are with family, other adults or peers. It's normal to feel "down" occasionally, but when that continues for a couple of weeks or more, it might be a sign of depression and time to ACT.
Part of the ACT process is to go to a trusted adult and explain what is happening.
The ACT information brochure addresses a number of topics which confront students. One of them is the danger of drinking. The brochure provides facts about drinking along with fiction students often hear.
Another topic is about posting things online and mentions five things to consider before you type something on a computer and press the "send" key.
A third topic pertains to how depression twists a person's way of thinking. It gives signs to look for to determine if you have depression.
Cyberbullying, struggling with one's sexuality and suicide are other relevant topics.
The ACT brochure also offers students ways to overcome stressors and action steps to take on "the road to resilience."
[For more of this story, written by Nancy Grindle, go to http://www.mariontoday.org/times/article.php?id=4049]
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