How Springfield Public Schools addresses mental health with its students: How to get help

If you are facing an immediate mental health, suicide or substance use crisis or any other emotional distress, call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat.

From an early age, Springfield Public Schools tries to build confidence in its students and help them know they are strong and capable of anything.

"The mantra for my preschool daughter this year was 'I can do hard things, I can handle it,'" Dr. Alison Roffers, SPS' Director of Counseling Services, said. "That was part of their morning chant and she would chant that sometimes at home, too. We're, as a school district, trying to plant those seeds of overcoming obstacles and building resilience."

It's a small, but meaningful, part of how SPS teaches its students a sense of self-belief. Detailed curriculums attempt to build students up and educate them year by year, hoping to set their students up for a happy and successful life once they receive their diplomas after their senior years.

That doesn't mean there aren't challenges and some who may struggle. The district has been proactive in setting up many programs to help those who need help, too.

Springfield Public Schools has many resources its students can use if they seek help for their mental health. Several programs have been created to help students and employees identify those in need. Various methods of receiving counseling are set up to give those seeking help more options.

What those at SPS stress is how much it cares about its students and how it wants to help those in need.

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"We want them to know that there are trusted adults who care about them and are standing ready to help," Stephen Hall, SPS' chief communications officer, said. "It takes great courage sometimes to step forward and share concerns whether it be about yourself or about someone you know and love. There are caring adults that are ready and they're ready to step in and help and connect people with resources. We just want our students to know that we care about them and we love them."

What mental health training does SPS provide its employees and students?

Each employee who comes in contact with students is required to undergo mental health training annually. That includes bus drivers, custodians, teachers, counselors, principals, etc. The training teaches staff how to respond, how to notice changes in the student's behavior and how to respond. SPS preaches the "ACT" acronym of "Acknowledge, Care, Tell someone else."

In addition to what's required, the district also offers an optional one-day training session that Community Partnership of the Ozarks helps fund that's more in-depth.

Over the last five years, SPS has expanded its mental health training to students in a program called "teen Mental Health First Aid ." SPS was a pilot school for the program, which was previously backed by Lady Gaga, five years ago and has since expanded. All 10th graders, unless parents opt their students out of it, go through a three-part training designed to equip peers on how to respond when a friend is showing signs of distress or saying things out of the ordinary.

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"Students that are teenagers tend to talk to their peers before they talk to adults," Roffers said. "We saw the need and importance of training that age group on how to respond to their peers or those around them."

How early does Springfield Public Schools address mental health with its students?

SPS counselors attempt to build relationships with students as early as preschool and kindergarten. Built into the curriculum, students are taught about emotional regulation. Roffers said her daughter's preschool class opened their days chanting "I can do hard things" and planted a seed of overcoming obstacles and building resilience from a young age.

Elementary school counselors are also in classrooms weekly or bi-weekly to talk about preventative lessons on topics including bullying prevention, conflict resolution and so on. As students progress, they're also taught about career development, interests, study skills, etc.

As students get older, curriculums get more in-depth with required health classes talking about prevention around substance abuse, mental awareness, mental health and making safe and healthy choices.

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What is offered to SPS students during the summer?

"Explore" is SPS' free summer school programming. It offers a regular routine and socialization for students with their peers and it also offers school counselors in person and virtually.

Burrall Behavioral Health also has school-based staff that offer groups during the summer at a few SPS high schools. Students already receiving Burrell services during the school year can access summer programming. A new referral to the Burrell school-based program during the school year or summer can be made by calling the district's Counseling Services department 417-523-1124. School counselors can also make referrals during the year.

SPS expanded its counseling services via its Launch program that serves virtual learning for 380 districts across the state. Counselors have been added to the program, giving students engaged through virtual settings access to counselors throughout the summer.

Has SPS noticed a change in the stigma around mental health in recent years?

Roffers said that the more prevention SPS has done in recent years, the more students have disclosed thoughts of suicide or thoughts of depression. At first, she thought it was alarming but more discussions with those in the community changed her mind.

"We shouldn't look at (the increase) in disclosures as a bad sign," Roffers said. "They're doing what we're telling them to do in prevention lessons. They're seeking help. It means the more students we've helped and that it felt comfortable and they've listened to what we've been telling them."

What broad items are students dealing with that we aren't thinking of?

Roffers said the expanded access and immediate news and information students can obtain, via social media, can have an immediate impact.

Students still deal with many problems adults faced prior to social media like fights or disagreements with parents, breakups and missing out on being invited to parties. But it's now more instant when someone can look at Instagram and Snapchat and maybe have their feelings hurt.

"You're also basing it on how many likes you have or how many comments that are made on someone else's post and not your post," Roffers said. "It's really hard not to compare with other people. My advice for guardians would be to limit screen time and not allow the teens to keep their phones in their rooms overnight, as hard as that sounds."

What advice does SPS give to parents?

In addition to limiting screen time, Roffers suggests that parents don't shy away from having uncomfortable conversations with their children and have difficult conversations.

"I would urge them to persist and have those conversations as a way of prevention," Roffers said. "I think it's important for young people to know how to cope and build resilience before the hard situations happen. I would encourage them to have those difficult conversations, acknowledge the difference they're seeing, and offer them someone to talk to."

Having routines can also be beneficial and Roffers said it's important for parents to watch to see if their child feels overwhelmed with the activities if they're not getting enough downtime.

How can Springfield Public Schools students ask for help?

Early childhood and elementary students can ask their teacher to see the school counselor or submit a form to request a counselor visit. Middle and high school students can do the same and can also message the school counselor using Canvas, the students' learning management software.

Parents can always call or email the school counselor to request a student visit. Staff can also identify students who need extra support and may request a visit for a student.

SPS also has an anonymous tip line that's monitored by school police. You can call or text the number at 417-319-2901 or visit the district's website.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: How Springfield Public Schools addresses mental health with its students: How to get help