Mental health is a huge matter for students and teenagers worldwide. It has been estimated that about 14% of pre-teens and teenagers suffer from mental health conditions, yet a majority of them go unnoticed and untreated.
There are a lot of factors that induce stress and affect the mental health of students at the school, which can range from continuous homework and overbearing teachers to difficult assignments. Some students also juggle matters outside of school such as friendships, plans for their future, and familial relationships. Mental health issues can impact students’ social lives and school performance.
What can be done? The hope is that if students develop a healthy bond between school and their mental health, they are more likely to open up to people who can provide help and confront their inner conflicts. That is what MHS is trying to do.
Malden High School is a place where teenagers should feel safe and comforted by the adults around them. While it is not perfect, it can be great at helping promote social and emotional growth between both teachers and students. While it mainly does this in the form of the advisory curriculum, many guidance counselors and social workers at the school are willing to help students be on the right track.
Kristy Hardy, the Boyle House adjustment counselor, has been working at the school for nine years. “I’m part of a team of social workers here that provide mental health support for students,” Hardy explained. Hardy has multiple certified degrees, including an undergraduate degree in communication, and she minored in psychology as well as a Masters degree in social work. Before working at MHS, she had previous experience at two other public high schools, one being “a residential school.”
Hardy described her role as a counselor to be “fulfilling, rewarding, maybe overwhelming at times.” But, she added, “I really do love my job.”
The counselors are also there for students in crisis situations to provide a space where they can find support and mental health care. “That’s when we collaborate as a team of social workers and help each other,” she remarked.
Despite the number of social workers in the school, Hardy wishes for more students to be aware of their presence and more opportunities for students to seek professional help or advice. “I think we need more social workers because it’s often difficult for us in the mainstream to feel like we have enough time to meet with all the kids who want to meet with us or who need to.”
It is evident at Malden High that many people are determined to help students overcome the difficulties they face daily. The help provided to students has greatly contributed to a stronger sense of community and care within the school.
Guidance counselors can be found in these rooms:
Ben Butler: J270
Hardy, Kristy: B332
Holmes, Taysia: J370
Sally Zhang: BR470
Amy Yu: BR476
