Subject: Resources and Support for Mental Health
From: "Mamadou Gueye [email-masked]" <[email-masked]>
Date: 5 Dec 2017 09:56:27 -0500

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are reaching out regarding supporting mental health in our community.  After Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), many students have expressed a continued interest in raising awareness and providing supports to Sidwell Friends students. We look forward to partnering with students for this important, ongoing work.  During MHAW, all students attended a student-led collection and were provided accurate information and resources, learned ways to take care of mental health, and listened to accounts about the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness. Lunch presentations on topics such as depression and anxiety were available to all students.

Now can be a good time to start a dialogue with your child about how they take care of their emotional health.  You can share with them that you are always available to listen to them about the pressures they are facing.  To promote wellness, highlight the importance of sleep, exercise, and making time to enjoy the company of friends and family.  A consistent meditation or mindfulness practice can also be a great way to take care of their health.  You can encourage your child to take stock of their use of social media and technology, and to assess whether some forums or platforms are an added source of stress.

Many of you may have heard the sad news that there have been recent reports of multiple teen suicides in the DMV area.  I wanted this to be on your radar as many of our students are following these events on social media, and are experiencing distress at hearing these accounts. Some of the social media activity gives cause for concern due to the pervasive, detailed nature of some of the incidents, some evidence of false reports, and potential contagion effects. Exposure to another person’s suicide can increase suicidal risk in teens, and we want to ensure our students know when and how to reach out for help. Resources will be sent out to all students. We encourage you to initiate a dialogue with your child and allow them to express their feelings and reactions to the upsetting news if they have already been exposed to it.

Please see the attached resources for parents:

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/talk/parents-caregivers/index.html

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/preventing-youth-suicide-tips-for-parents-and-educators

Please take note if your child displays a sudden change in behavior, becomes withdrawn, is teary, or is suddenly fearful, as these are signs that your child may need professional support.  Dr. Holmes is available to provide short-term counseling or outside referrals to all students.

We have a few upcoming events.  The Student Life Data gathering task force is presenting tonight, Tuesday December 5th from 6:30-8:00pm to discuss student workload, stress, and resilience.  This week and next, Dr. Holmes will be visiting 9th grade studies classes to talk about stress management. Thursday, December 7th, at 8 am in the Choral Room, Dr. Holmes is hosting a coffee to discuss mental health topics with all upper school parents.  These events are part of our comprehensive health and wellness curriculum and efforts.

We look forward to your continued partnership in promoting health in our community.

In health,

Mamadou Gueye, Upper School Principal

Kasaan Holmes, Psychologist, Upper School

Mamadou Guèye | Upper School Principal | Sidwell Friends School |

3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 |

[email-masked] | Tel. 202.537.8162 | Fax. 202.537.8178

Kasaan E. Holmes, PhD

Psychologist

Sidwell Friends Upper School

(202) 537-8177

[email-masked]

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