*PHOTOS* Uxbridge School District Hosts Second Annual Mental Health Summit

Superintendent Michael Baldassarre welcomed a large group of mental and behavioral health advocates and service providers to the school district’s second annual Mental Health Summit at the Blissful Meadows Golf Club on Wednesday, April 3. Participants discussed the district’s current state of student mental health and ways to improve the overall situation. Baldassarre has been holding summits like this one for many years. 

Leadership from a project team representing the high school’s student body was present to offer firsthand testimony. The group is aptly called “Mending Spartan Minds.” The project team was represented by students Sophia Mone, Ellie Lewis, and Catherine Buma. Uxbridge High School Adjustment Counselor Lori Tobin supported them. The group had a display table and engaged in conversation with summit participants.

The students explained how today’s youth faces a challenging environment dominated by technology, social media, and changed societal norms. They felt optimistic about ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental health but stressed that a lot still needs to be done. The students explained how kids and teenagers often struggle with mental health. As a group, they feel compelled to do their part to make sure help and resources are not just available but accessible to fellow students.

“When kids see other kids are involved, it’s a game changer,” said 12th grader Ellie Lewis. 

The audience included representatives from law enforcement, fire, mental health service providers, staff from the Town of Uxbridge, ecumenical leaders, and members of the Board of Selectmen. Senator Ryan Fattman and Representative Michael Sloter represented the Massachusetts state legislature. 

Both the Senator and the Representative shared personal stories in their opening remarks. Regarding the importance of mental health services in schools, Senator Fattman addressed the attendees, acknowledging, “You are here because you care.” He added, “We are truly taking on challenges that are generational.”

He spoke about an initiative he sponsors to extend a resource accessibility program successfully used with the military and health officials to student bodies of elementary and secondary schools.

Representative Soter noted, “We need to move away from the identity type of mental health and focus more on support mechanisms and inclusion in the sense of helping people see what they experience is a condition they can overcome.”

Administrators from within the Uxbridge School District shared some startling data showing that 61 students had been newly referred to counselors already since January. Superintendent Baldassarre has moved the district into a data-driven model for children’s behavioral health. These students were mainly dealing with mental health conditions ranging from anxiety, social conflict, and depression all the way to self-harm. Using Baldassarre’s model, the district will be able to track the efficacy of interventions and know when and where to apply the most appropriate professional development for staff.

While this data emphasizes the need for resources and active engagement, data also shows a positive impact of actions taken since the first Mental Health Summit a year ago. The school district sees a notable downward trend in dropouts, a reduction in chronic absenteeism, and an improvement in the percentage of students who successfully graduate. Director of Pupil Services Jennifer Toth noted how the new model for service delivery in Uxbridge makes counseling accessible to all of Uxbridge’s students.

Uxbridge Board of Selectman Vice Chair John Wise commented, “As a town official, we support the budget. Understanding the challenges our schools face and the financial burden is critical so we can help with resources and support to improve our schools.”

Participants and members of a panel of experts pointed out how vital opportunities like the Uxbridge School District Mental Health Summit are to network, collaborate, and raise awareness for new and improved resources and ways to cooperate among the various providers and organizations.

Those who took part in the panel discussion were:

• Carly Sebastian – Director of Child, Youth, and Family Services for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in Central Massachusetts
• Paul Hyry-Dermith – Director of BRYT at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
• John Crocker – Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services for Methuen Public Schools
• Leo Andrews – Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
• Elizabeth Frontaan – Community Relations Representative for the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line
• Safdar Medina, M.D. – Director of Pediatrics at Tri-River Family Health Center in Uxbridge
• Kate Bock – Director of Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention for Riverside Community Care
• Melissa Plowman, LMHC – Private Practice Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Looking back at the work already done and stressing that these efforts must continue, Superintendent Baldassare expressed his relief that the attendees understand that “the first time we come together cannot be when a student dies.”

To those who wonder why schools might take such a central role in addressing youth mental health challenges, he said, “None of our curricula, assessment, or instructional practices work if our children are not well. Our real work is ensuring our kids feel healthy and curious.”