Schools tackle mental health

Central District Superintendent Dr. Wayne Loper said in September that the high school district would launch Wellness Centers at each of its four schools, staffed by psychologists, social workers and school counselors, to help students cope with the outsized toll that the coronavirus pandemic has taken on their mental health.
The Memorial Junior High School Wellness Center recently hosted a mental-health event with Molloy College focused on techniques to reduce stress, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Chanei Patterson, a Memorial psychologist, said there has been a “severe mental health emergency among our students and students nationwide... It’s really helpful for their socialization skills because students have been out of school for a long time.”
According to a recent C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital national poll, 46 percent of parents reported that their teens showed signs of a new or worsening mental health condition since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Among the purposes of the life skills workshop, Paterson said, was to give students an “opportunity to learn how to incorporate their mental health in a way that’s not stigmatizing.” Students learned to use music therapy as a coping skill, she said. Students who are banging on drums or shaking tambourines may not realize they are taking part in a relaxation exercise. Students joined Molloy College music therapy students to play away their stress on a variety of instruments.
Anna Shane, who is studying music therapy at Molloy, said music provides mental and physical benefits. “Music therapy offers a wide variety of experiences and opportunities where people of all ages and capabilities can use music to enhance their wellbeing… and really explore their interests,” she explained. A study done by the Peterson Family Foundation noted music therapy reduces physical discomfort by improving respiration, lowering blood pressure and relaxing muscle tension.

Eighth-grader Simra Israr said she came for the music and was now thinking about playing an instrument after the experience. Eighth-grader Serana Souvenance, who plays trumpet, was fascinated to try instruments that were new to her.
Molloy nursing students also taught the Memorial students CPR. Kendra Hoepper, director of Long Island University’s undergraduate nursing program who is also part of Molloy’s nursing program, said partnering with neighboring communities and schools to give CPR training would lead to “better outcomes for people who have sudden cardiac arrest.”
“I really wanted to come and enjoy the music and learn CPR, but I was more excited for CPR,” said eighth-grader Maranda Nunes, who said she now feels empowered to handle different cardiac emergencies.
“The Wellness Center runs every week on Tuesdays,” Memorial Principal Bret Strauss said. “We’re looking for other connections to general health and wellbeing along with mental health.”
Strauss said the school is planning for more events to “support mental health in a variety of ways…even just by giving people a safe space.”