By Jennifer Gibbins, Principal of Forrestdale School
RUMSON – Close to 100 parents joined the Forrestdale School Social Emotional Learning Team in January to promote student wellness at the Rumson School District’s first Mental Health Symposium.
The district strives to bring relevant topics and resources to our community of parents and providing support for adolescent and child mental health is one of great importance.
The Jan. 11 event featured resource stations from local providers and experts in the field of mental health including: Preferred Behavioral Health, Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, Hackensack Meridian Hospital, Stephy’s Place, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Men’s X Mental and Two River Competent Community.
Additionally, Forrestdale art teacher Matt Miranda encouraged parents to participate in a mindful art community exercise in which they engaged in a shared artistic experience.
The evening featured four different keynotes focused on pertinent topics impacting adolescents. Chris Huss, Ed.D., and Karen Barry, Ed.D., spoke about the impacts of social media on students’ mental health, academics and future college and career paths. They also provided parents with realistic statistics about cyberbullying, the average time per day adolescents spend online and the most frequently used social media platforms. Parents were then provided resource guides for apps and software they can use to monitor their children’s online use as well as cell phone settings that provide parental controls.
The highlight of the event for many parents was a candid panel conversation I moderated in which participants opened up about their personal and professional experiences with mental health. On this panel, former Forrestdale student, Rumson Fair Haven High School graduate, and founder and CEO of Men’s X Mental, Teddy Sourlis, encouraged parents to give their children permission and the opportunity to tell them when they are not OK. Sourlis made particular mention of male athletes who are often expected to “suck it up” instead of “speaking up.”
Wendy Sefcik, the parent of a son lost to suicide at age 16, spoke about the hope she has for families who are working through finding resources for their struggling children, and systems of support parents have access to in Monmouth County through Performed Care, Family Crisis and Mobile Response. Nicole Nolan, Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, and Lauren Casas, Preferred Behavioral Health, both licensed social workers, encouraged parents to be intelligent consumers when seeking help for their children, outlining the different types of therapy and services available while promoting ways parents in the Rumson community can come together to destigmatize mental health, so that children can seek the help they need.
Forrestdale’s Social Emotional Learning Team spoke about the school’s programming and resources to support students in the school, including the Lifelines Suicide Prevention program taught by health teacher Lu Holmes. They also introduced contracted crisis consultant Tony Ferruggiaro who is a former adolescent crisis screener at Monmouth Medical Hospital, and presently works with the district to identify supports outside of school for families whose students may be identified as being at risk or in crisis.
Finally, Hackensack Meridian Hospital’s team of Meera Wells, M.D., and Jose Posos, introduced their Pediatric Psychiatric Collaboration pilot program for New Jersey, in concert with the Rumson District. As a result of the increases seen in pediatric mental health needs, and the October 2021 declaration of a national State of Emergency by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry related to children’s mental health, Hackensack is partnering with pediatricians to promote early identification and fast access to clinicians. Now they are looking to expand this beyond pediatricians to schools, with Rumson serving as their pilot district. Hackensack will provide Rumson with a model to connect school-based counselors and families with mental health providers outside of school for a higher level of care. Through this collaborative program, an assigned care coordinator and clinical navigator will be paramount in walking parents through the process of getting supports in place, with consideration of their individual needs.
The district looks forward to hosting additional parent programs throughout the school year as a means to continue strengthening the connection between the school and community.
The article originally appeared in the March 2 – 8, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
