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Over the past year, the school has launched a speaker series for parents on topics including substance abuse and mental health. It has also trained the entire 1,300-member student body in identifying students who are struggling with mental health and knowing what to do about it, according to Verdicchio.

The school now also does quarterly mental health check-ins with each student and follows up to make sure they are connected with a counselor if they are struggling.

\"PHOTO:
Dr. Jessica Verdicchio/Northern Highlands Regional High School
PHOTO: Students tend to the wellness garden in an undated photo.
>

In addition, students formed a Wellness Club, which gives them even more of a role and a voice in mental health support at school, according to Verdicchio.

\"Our students really like to have their voices heard,\" she said. \"They have tons of ideas on how we can continue to support the mental health of students, and I love hearing what they feel like works and what doesn't.\"

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Verdicchio said that mental health awareness is now a \"part of the fabric of our school.\"

\"With the JED partnership, what it's allowed us to do is have a very clear vision of how this is supposed to work and make sure that not just pockets of people are trained, but that our whole staff is trained, and that we're offering parent training and infusing language regarding mental health and how to cope and how to ask for help as part of the fabric of our school,\" she said. \"It's allowed our school as a whole to feel supported.\"

How to make sure schools support kids' mental health

One of the \"silver linings\" of the coronavirus pandemic, according to MacPhee, is that it has sparked a greater conversation around mental health and kids, particularly in schools.

Part of the change comes from parents who should feel empowered to make sure their kids' school is a healthy environment, according to MacPhee.

Here are four tips from MacPhee on how parents can get involved to support schools.

1. Ask for the schools' plan to support mental health. \"Every school should have a written plan of how they're supporting students' mental health and how they're reducing suicide,\" said MacPhee, noting that schools should have plans to improve mental health.

2. Know the mental health resources available at your child's school, including mental health professionals on staff and trainings available to staff, students and parents, recommends MacPhee. \"In addition to the academic support and the college guidance, parents should be asking about mental health supports as well,\" he said.

3. Make sure the school administration supports mental health efforts. \"The message to school leadership is that this needs to be a priority, and they control its success by making it a priority of the school,\" said MacPhee.

4. Ask how parents can get involved. \"Mental health should be a focus of the parent teacher association and other parent groups that are in the community,\" said MacPhee.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support. Call 1-800-273-8255 for help.

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