Beginning this year, district administrators plan to establish a mental health initiative to raise awareness in the community about the mental health needs of students.

Adolescence is a challenging time full of mental and emotional challenges, and teens face increasing rates of depression and other disorders, according to NBC News.

School officials hope to help students deal with the stresses from school, family and relationships.

“[The students’ well-being] should always be [most] important,” school psychologist Kevin Kemelhar said. “We as adults should always have a good pulse on students’ emotions and functioning; we’re not here just for academics. [The students] also come here to be people… Human beings need to be human first.”

The initiative is based on the “Be Present” campaign run by the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. The campaign encourages young people to empower their peers, raises awareness about the struggles they face and helps them make an easier transition through puberty.

Beachwood’s initiative has several goals. One is to send a message to students, staff, parents and the community that the administration cares. In that message, students will be provided the tools and skills to support their own mental health.

Another goal is to remove any stigma around the topic of mental health so students feel comfortable discussing it.

The initiative will also emphasize positive ways that students can cope with stress.

“[Our goals include] developing awareness, providing support and education and ongoing strategies to really help students and staff—really anybody—to be able to move through whatever difficult situation they have,” Kemelhar said.

Students were informed about the mental health initiative during an assembly at the beginning of the year.

According to Principal Tony Srithai, the administration plans to continue holding assemblies throughout the year addressing mental health issues.

“In the decisions that we make as a school, we’re asking ourselves how [they will] impact the mental health of our students,” Srithai said. “…and likewise [we are] making sure that any programming or things that we do in regards to mental health are consistent throughout the year.”

The BHS Mental Health and Wellness Group was formed by volunteer students interested in contributing to the mental health initiative.

According to junior Anna Ward, a student involved in the group, the group’s goal is to form a bridge between the student body and the administration so both sides understand each other.

“We are also going to be reaching out to the elementary school, the middle school, parents and the community as well to form a healthier, more positive atmosphere,” Ward said.

“One common misconception is that the administration doesn’t take this issue seriously,” said sophomore Nakita Reidenbach, another student in the mental health group. “I think they do; it’s just that they don’t go about it the way that students probably want them to. The student mental health group and the administration don’t always agree.”

“People have to understand that the mental health group is solely a student operated committee, so we want students to know that this is literally coming from the students,” Reidenbach added.

In commemoration of Suicide Prevention and Awareness month, the school held an assembly on September 11 to raise awareness about suicide and inform students about methods they can use to help themselves or someone else. During the assembly, some students from the Mental Health and Wellness Group spoke to their peers about mental health.

Ward opened up about her struggles with suicide and depression, encouraging students to find support and come together.

“[Needing help] is not weak; it’s being human,” she said.

Srithai recognizes that mental health is an issue that must be addressed in the school.

“Many of our students are still going through the healing process and searching for answers and searching for supports,” he said. “Teachers are eager to provide [support] and [they] want to make sure we do it right. “

“Admittedly, this is new ground for so many of us,” he added. “We’re struggling [to find ways] we can support our students. However, we look forward to collaborating with students, our staff across the district and other resources throughout the community to inform ourselves of appropriate levels of support.”