Forest Hills officials outline mental health support services, aim to raise awareness of availability

Mar. 29—SIDMAN, Pa. — Forest Hills School District students have adults to whom they can turn in times of trouble at every level, from multiple school counselors to supportive community programs, officials there said.

"We provide these services because our students need them; our families need them," high school Principal Rebecca Roberts said.

Mental health services have been in the spotlight since a Forest Hills High School student committed suicide two weeks ago.

Forest Hills has provided some offerings for years, such as partnerships with Victim Services Inc., Alternative Community Resource Program counselors and the Women's Help Center.

A newer addition includes Reaching Educational Achievements with Clinical Mental Health Inc., which has two counselors at the high school and a behavioral specialist at the elementary school.

REACH clinical director Angela Yoder said the program offers quality clinical mental health services in schools. There is a REACH counselor in every Cambria County district through a Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program grant.

Forest Hills also has three counselors at the high school, two counselors at the elementary school, Student Assistance Programs in each building, a school psychologist, two social workers and impact counseling.

Yoder said these services look at removing behaviors and aim to educate students that it's OK to receive help.

Roberts said that outside services can be hard to get into and transportation can be a barrier.

If students can access counseling in school, it meets them where they are, limits time away from class, and helps parents who won't have to miss work for appointments, Roberts said.

Despite more of a focus on mental health, therapy often still has a stigma attached to it. That's an issue Forest Hills counselors and administrators face.

Roberts said they've had students ask for counseling, but have parents deny access. There have also been situations in which parents have requested help for their children, but at 14 years old, students can deny the help.

That stigma may never go away, Roberts said, but school officials try to impart on students that mental health is just as important as physical health.

"It's a process," Yoder said of therapy.

She added that the need for counseling is likely developed throughout several years, and initial sessions are focused on relationship-building so a patient's walls can be broken down and help can be provided. Yoder said issues can't be solved in a few sessions.

Forest Hills counselors and administrators want to raise awareness about the suite of offerings available to students in light of recent events.

Students and parents are alerted through newsletters, assemblies, classroom discussions, resources on the district website and at open house events — but school officials said they want to do more.

Notices of the services are being displayed on monitors throughout the high school, sent through email and posted on district social media, school officials said.

Roberts said the "big thing" is she wants students to know there are options available to them for help.

Referrals can be made through student requests, or by parents or others such as teachers reporting possible concerns.

Information about the REACH program and other services can be found at www.fhrangers.org.

___

(c)2024 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)

Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.