With reports of rising anxiety and depression symptoms in students ages 3-17, it’s clear that the crisis of student mental health has shifted from a passing post-pandemic phenomenon to a sustained, systemic challenge. So how are Catholic schools in Western Washington responding?
This episode of “The Fulcrum Point” focuses on the increased efforts among schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle to bring social and emotional health into the curriculum at the PreK-8th grade levels. High schools in the archdiocese are taking this work a step further—training students to serve as mental health facilitators for their peers.
You’ll hear from long-time school counselor, Denise Mullins, who’s built a social and emotional learning program at Holy Rosary in Edmonds and St. Thomas More in Lynnwood preK-8 schools. Her work is helping students take charge of their own mental health and also assisting kids and their families grapple with modern challenges like cyberbullying.
You’ll also hear from Joe Cotton, Executive Director of the Office of the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Seattle, who’s built a program called the “Catholic Lifesaver Corps.” This peer-to-peer mental health program is literally saving lives and drawing international attention due to its success.
Join host Brian Callanan to learn more about how Catholic schools in Western Washington are dealing with the many challenges of student mental health on this episode of the Fulcrum Point.