September is National Suicide Prevention Month. According to CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. Stroudsburg High School provides numerous resources to help their students’ mental health and promote awareness from staff to clubs. SHS has its own Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) professional, School Psychologist, and Licensed Mental Health Professional.

Ms. Austin is SHS’s MTSS Coordinator. MTSS includes 3 tiers, which provide different levels of support for students, ranging from increased support in classroom instruction to intensive support with daily meetings and specialized instruction. Ms. Austin works closely with many students with things such as check-ins and group instruction. MTSS works with students with disabilities and mental health issues, anything that affects day-to-day life.

While Ms. Austin is able to help and talk to students herself, she is also able to refer them to guidance and other mental health professionals. This is only the second year of MTSS at the high school, and while it is still a growing program, it is a valuable resource for struggling students. Ms. Austin is available to be contacted at [email protected]. 

This school year is Ms. Mileto, our school psychologist’s, first year at SHS. As the school’s psychologist, her main role is to work with kids with disabilities, including those whose mental health impacts their days to the point of a disability. One part of Ms. Mileto’s job is to distribute evaluations to help determine a student’s issue and to what extent. This can include things such as anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, aggression, etc. She will then work with students, their families, and the school to figure out how to best help that student. While this makes up a big portion of what she does in a day, Ms. Mileto is also qualified to help with mental health issues in other ways, such as counseling groups, interventions, and suicide risk assessments. Ms. Mileto’s office is located in guidance.

SHS has its own licensed mental health professional, Mrs. Weikert. Guidance and MTSS are the ones who refer students to Mrs. Weikert. From there, she can provide counseling, whether that be individual counseling or in a group setting, with topics like stress management or grief. She meets with students as often as they need, whether it’s every day or as needed.

Students can talk about whatever they need, from relationships to anxiety triggers. Mrs. Weikert’s room is a safe space for everyone. “I encourage students to join any activity or club because it aids in making friends. Having a support group or at least one person you are comfortable with could make all the difference in the world for someone who is struggling,” – Mrs. Weikert.

SHS has a number of mental health resources for its students. Additionally, the high school has two main clubs that deal with mental health awareness and spreading positivity: Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Aevidum. Ms. Austin, Ms. Mileto, and Mrs. Weikert are exceptional resources for anyone who may need them.