Remedylive coming to Plymouth Community School Corporation
Remedylive, a mental health resource, is being brought to the Plymouth Community School Corporation (PCSC); made possible by the Marshall County COVID19 Community Response and Recovery Fund at United Way and in partnership with the Marshall County Community Foundation and Marshall County Crossroads.
The initiative was inspired over a year ago by a community advocate who is passionate for mental health awareness; particularly among teenagers and youth, Kate Holderman. A series of interactive engagements focused on mental health awareness and resources were being planned; but were abruptly interrupted by the pandemic. A team of women including Holderman, Lindie Leary, MS Ed, LMHC and Director of Marshall County Bowen Center, Director of the Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way Linda Yoder, and PCSC Counselor Aimee Portteus, resumed discussions to move forward with the increasingly important initiative safely; despite the pandemic. Leary said, “We wanted to reach as many kids as we can.”
The team decided on pursuing programs offered by Remedylive, an organization that facilitates mental health presentations. Junior High and High School students attending
“The biggest message I’d like to get out there is that it’s okay to talk to somebody when you are not feeling well mentally. When you are having such stressors in your life that it’s impacting your daily functioning, it’s okay to get help.” -Lindie Leary
PCSC from 7th grade to 12th grade will be offered the “Get Schooled Virtual Tour” on Wednesday, April 14. The event is a virtual mental
“All of the students in Marshall County have two free sessions that they can use. I think that’s just great that every school in Marshall County has chosen to invest in their students in that way. Take that opportunity, parents. If your children are showing signs; take this opportunity to get them help.”
-Lindie Leary
Leary also encouraged parents to utilize the mental health visits as a pro-active wellness check to normalize seeing a mental health professional even if their student isn’t displaying concerning behaviors. Life presents challenges at different stages; the need for mental health support is no different than medical treatment needed for cancer, injury, or any other illness. Mental health is linked to physical health. Research illustrates a link to short term and long term physical responses to mental health issues; help is available.
health education program that focuses on self-awareness and resilience. Students in lower grade levels will be offered “Get School Tour Junior”.
Leary said that other school corporations have experienced great success with the program. She heard excellent reviews from other Bowen Centers who observed the positive impact within those counties who held these events at their schools. “Remedylive was created specifically to capture the attention of teens and children with the subject of mental health with really focusing on lowering that stigma.” She added, “These are the professionals at going in to the schools and breaching this conversation that can be very uncomfortable and doing it in a way that comes across as cool and energizing; which really gets the conversation going in a unique way that I think helps so much.”
Leary noted that students are provided with peer support as they watch the program together. For younger grades; the program provides age appropriate conversation about mental health. Participants in 7th grade and higher will be given the added opportunity to answer polling questions virtually and anonymously using their devices. As those results and feedback is illustrated to each group; again without identifying anyone specific; it demonstrates that these students are not alone in their feelings of depression or anxiety or uncertainty. “As they do that with the entire school, or with the students who parents have allowed to participate in it, sitting side by side with their peers they are experiencing the breakdown of that stigma.”
PCSC emphasized the importance of having access to aftercare; so the program is not being offered to virtual students.
Students in attendance will be provided with information on how to connect with a professional therapist that will be on location after the assembly. Parents who do want their virtual student to attend should contact the counselor or social worker at their child’s school to make arrangements for in-person participation.
Students age 13 and up in attendance will be provided with cards inviting them to chat virtually with a 24/7 crisis chat center supported by Soul Medics; trained individuals who can provide support and who can identify if an emotional or mental health crisis is starting to occur or escalate and can refer to higher level assistance. A student can decide the day of the event not to participate; and students can choose to stop participating in the program at any time.
Leary said that the pandemic has impacted mental health among youth in negative ways. She shared that a recent study published by Michigan Medicine revealed that 46% of 977 parents responded that their children or teenagers were demonstrating new or increased symptoms of mental health issues since the pandemic. “When it comes to teens; their focus is autonomy. They are trying to find themselves; who they are going to be or who they want to be; just a lot of soul searching. But that takes them being around their peers. Social interaction is a huge part of their development, figuring out who they are, and starting to make those decisions on their own based on their peer groups and their surroundings; setting those moral compasses.”
The social distance, restrictions, and shut downs have decreased those opportunities for youth and mental health offices are seeing an increase in need for counselors. Leary emphasized the importance of having those conversations with children and youth. “It’s just really important that parents understand that the more they talk about it, the more they are making it an okay topic.” Making mental health a regular part of conversations allows children or teenagers to feel more comfortable talking about their own.
Anxiety is the mental health disorder that has ranked the highest through the pandemic with depression being a close second. “That’s understandable. We are over a year into this and we see a light at the end of the tunnel with the numbers consistently going down and vaccinations increasing but again - when? There is still that big question ‘When do we get to take our masks off?’ ‘When do we get to start being back in bigger social settings and not live in fear of if the person next to me has COVID?”
Not only did the pandemic increase that level of anxiety for many; but school staff is on the front line of defense in identifying pain based behaviors and are often the trusted individual that children go to for help. School staff are among the highest reporters to the Department of Child Protective Services (DCS) to access intervention or help for abused or neglected youth. Noting that many children have returned to in-person attendance; there are still some who have not. “That’s kind of scary to think about the lack of eyes on some of our youth.”
Please see the accompanying resource box printed with this article for local resources available to Marshall County individuals and families.