Teen teaching, a class known for focusing on leadership, mentorship and communication, has played a role in shaping high school students into positive role models for younger students. This year, a new program, developed by students at The University of Texas, called Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) has been implemented into the teen teaching classroom. This program is centered around proactive intervention, using activities and discussions to help students better understand mental health challenges.
YAM is intended to equip the students that are part of teen teaching to be able to identify signs of mental distress, communicate about the effects of mental health awareness and create a supportive environment for those they set an example for.
Some of the activities students engage in include booklets, guest speaker presentations, making posters, role-playing and whole class discussions.
The program incorporates exercises where participants play out different scenarios related to mental health struggles. These include recognizing when a friend is in distress, navigating conversations with someone who may be struggling or responding to signs they notice. The goal of YAM is to provide students answers to questions such as “What is mental health?”, “Who can I ask for advice?” and “How do I help a friend in need?”
“We have done a bunch of engaging activities that have helped open my eyes to seeing how a situation like bullying or mental health can affect people.” senior Ansley Bellow said.
The need for programs like YAM has increased in recent years as the conversation about mental health is becoming less taboo. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rates of anxiety and depression amongst teenagers has significantly risen over the last decade. Recognizing mental health in schools is vital for equipping students with anything they may need to navigate these challenges.
“Everyone goes through different struggles and sometimes it’s hard to acknowledge these struggles when you aren’t taught how to properly identify them,” senior Stephanie Nichols said.
By training students to identify these signs of emotional struggle and handle them effectively, the program equips students with the ability to help navigate younger students through any kind of internal conflict they may be facing.
The district’s decision to introduce YAM to the Teen Teaching classroom proves to be a greater effort to support mental health awareness and leadership development. This program ensures that the students will be able to spread its message and purpose to the younger children they mentor.
“I think it’s important for students to grow up with the awareness of mental health,” senior Sienna Beyer said.
Spreading these ideas and activities with younger students can make a profound impact on how mental health issues are viewed as the younger students enter into middle and high school.
The program is still in the early stages at Westlake, but the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Students will be given practical ways to approach these situations and make an impact on their community. Westlake Teen Teaching hopes that by normalizing discussions about important issues such as mental health, it will create a more open and understanding environment.
