By Riley Lynch ‘18 | Feature Editor

In addition to placing various hotline cards in bathrooms around the school, SERVE advisor, Alicia Carlisle, and the Grosse Pointe Public School System plan to create a new initiative on mental health.

Carlisle said the initiative is a collaborative effort on the behalf of mental health experts, community leaders, and school administrators to review mental health support in the community.  They are looking for ways to provide awareness, education and help regarding mental health.

“On behalf of our Superintendent Dr. Niehaus, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dean and the Beaumont Health Coalition, I was given the opportunity to put together a group of experts who I thought would best be able to take on this huge issue,” Carlisle said. “Every person I asked said yes, not because the school district was behind it or any hospital. People said yes because they care about our young people and this community. They know that this is an opportunity to help the lives of many people.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 20 percent of students 13-18 live with a mental health condition. Approximately 50 percent of students 14 and up with a serious mental disorder drop out of high school. In addition, 90 percent of individuals who commit suicide have an underlying struggle with mental health.

“Mental Health diagnoses affect about 20 percent of the population at any given time,” Carlisle said. “That means about one fifth of the students at South will or have experienced a mental illness. Keep in mind that mental illness is a physical illness. It is treatable.”

Students have also expressed a desire to have mental illnesses be aided by staff to help treat them.  

“I think that South does a good job making sure that students know they have support from the school and have options through the school, but I’m not sure that students find these people very approachable,” Abby Hurst ‘18 said.  

Hurst considers herself a mental health advocate, and participated in last year’s Suicide Prevention Walk.

Counselor Troy Glasser agrees with Hurst and said students who are struggling should try to get the support they need, especially from influential adults who can help.

“I think if teachers can build relationships with students, or counselors build relationships, or coaches build relationships, you can then get that message and support out along the way to support students, encourage them to do their best,” Glasser said.  “And you know, parents sometimes fall victim to this, they focus on grades rather than behaviors, but not every kid has to go to Harvard or Yale or Michigan.”

The new initiative includes approximately 60 people, Carlisle said, including several hospitals, Grosse Pointe Public Schools, Wayne State University, as well as local judges and psychologists.  

While she said it is hard to determine when the initiative will officially come into place, Carlisle said she wants to break down stigma about mental illness as soon as possible through education of staff and students.

“If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, if you believe the world might be better off without you in it is definitely time to seek help,” Carlisle said. “There’s no shame in reaching out for help in a situation that is so overwhelming. In fact, those who love you and care for you will be forever grateful that you took the brave step of searching for help before you did something that would take you away from them forever. Keep in mind that asking for help is what your friend or family member wants you to do – they want to you to get better.”