Counseling Resources and Social Worker
"Mental strength is not the ability to stay out of darkness; it’s the ability to sit present in the darkness knowing that the light will shine again." - Unknown
What is a School Social Worker?
St. Joe's employs a full-time social worker, a trained mental health professional who assists with mental health concerns, behavior concerns, positive behavioral support, and academic/classroom support. School social workers counsel students individually and in groups, and consult with teachers, parents, administrators, and outside resources to make sure the student is receiving the support he needs.
Social workers are available for students seeking assistance with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Feeling lonely
- Grief
- Drug/alcohol abuse
- Bullying
- Relationship issues
- Issues at home
- Parents going through divorce
- Suicidal thoughts
- ....and many more
Hotlines and resources that may be helpful:
24/7 Crisis Hotlines:
- Youth under 18: Spectrum Cares: 882.4357
- Adults: Crisis Services: 834.3131
- Addiction Hotline: 831-7007 or visit https://www.eriemha.org/crisis.php
- Suicide Crisis Hotline: 1.800.784.2433
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/youth/
- Don’t Cut hotline: 1.800.366.8288 or visit https://selfinjury.com/
- Crisis Text Line: text CONNECT to 741.1741 or visit https://www.crisistextline.org/suicide
- WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center: 677.7000 or visit https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/facilities/wcpc/
- Best Self Behavioral Health: 884.0888 or visit https://www.bestselfwny.org/
- Kids Escaping Drugs: 827.9462 or visit https://ked.org/
- Compass House Emergency Shelter: 886.0935 or visit https://www.compasshouse.org/
- Horizon Health Services: 831.1800 or visit https://www.horizon-health.org/services/residential-treatment/delta-village/
- Gay & Lesbian Youth Services of WNY: 855.0221 or visit https://www.glyswny.org/
Parents:
Is your teen struggling with stress and/or anxiety? Read on.
Is your teen struggling with stress and/or anxiety? Read on.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress and anxiety are closely related, but not the same. Stress is a natural response to a challenge. It can make us feel nervous, angry, or frustrated. We may also feel shaky, sweaty, hot, and dizzy when we are stressed. The good news is, not all stress is bad.
Stress and anxiety are closely related, but not the same. Stress is a natural response to a challenge. It can make us feel nervous, angry, or frustrated. We may also feel shaky, sweaty, hot, and dizzy when we are stressed. The good news is, not all stress is bad.
For example, stress may pump up a student who needs to study for a test or finish a paper on time.
Anxiety is a reaction to stress. It’s the feeling kids get when they don’t think they can handle the challenge that is putting pressure on them. All teens experience anxiety at times. With that being said, if your child’s feelings of anxiety interferes with normal daily living, the presence of an anxiety disorder should be considered. Here are some of the signs/symptoms to look for:
- Difficulty concentrating at school
- Spending increased time alone
- Avoiding social interactions with usual friends
- Constant stomach aches
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Falling grades
Here are some useful ways to help your teen with anxiety:
Practice being mindful with your teen. For example, try having him close his eyes and be present in the moment. Ask him to pay attention to his heartbeat and how he feels in the moment. Other tools include:
Practice being mindful with your teen. For example, try having him close his eyes and be present in the moment. Ask him to pay attention to his heartbeat and how he feels in the moment. Other tools include:
- Mindfulness: free apps include Smiling mind & Stop, Breathe, Think
- Exercising
- Eating healthy
- Seeing an outside therapist
For more information about anxiety disorders, visit https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children
For more information about vaping and e-cigs, visit https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreventiontoolkit/E-Cigs.html
Special Education Services
SJCI is proud to be able to offer a high level of special education services to a wide variety of students, in collaboration with our home school district (Kenmore-Tonawanda UFSD). To learn more about our special education program, contact our VP for Academics, Ms. Ann Marie Spitzer ([email protected])
