Teenage Survivor Skills

Students that attend C2E will be required to take a core class on “Teenage Survivor Skills”. This core class will be different for every grade, that way each grade learns age appropriate material. It is second period on Tuesdays/Thursdays. Funding is provided for a professional therapist through Bond and Mill Levy 5A and 5B that will rotate between classes teaching and will provide counseling for whoever needs it. This includes mental health awareness, drug and peer pressure scenarios, and preparing for real life dangerous situations. That way, kids will be informed earlier and more prepared for what is to come. This will help prevent mental health situations or hard times coming later in life. Older kids can come in to inform the younger ones about real life experiences and give advice on situations. The classes are year long so that the students can get the most information as possible. The classes are treated as a core class and graded accordingly while offering more hands on activities.

“Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of it…” (“Substance Abuse Education Resources’ 2018). People learn better through life experiences, and making their own mistakes. Teens tend to want to experiment with drugs and alcohol and the class will explain the danger and effect of it. Most experiments are because of peer pressure. Teens think that it will provide an escape, self-medication, boredom, rebellion, lack of confidence or misinformation. The class will help provide them with better and healthier ways to find confidence, help, etc.

Many opponents to the idea will think that it is a waste of time and money to provide time and funding for this opportunity. “People should take tests to see what type of mental health diagnosis they have…also, if you aren’t seeing a good therapist then it is a waste of time and money. Not all kids get better from therapy and professionals so are we wasting our time.” While this fact is true it may be misinterpreted because, “1 in 5 children in youth have a diagnosable mental health condition, and 80% of them do not receive the help they need, only 40% of these kids will graduate from high school, and over 50% (14 and older) will drop out of high school.” Throughout the common misconceptions about high school dropouts, many do not get the help they need. Having courses to inform students stops many situations before they can even begin.

Some studies have shown therapy is more harmful and can make you (more) depressed. Professor Glenys Parry (chief investigator of AdEPT) said “Most people are helped by therapy, but…anything that has real effectiveness, that has transformative power to change your life, has also got the ability to make things worse if it is misapplied, the wrong treatment or if it’s not done correctly”. Although therapy can make you more depressed, it is actually a small percentage and very unlikely. Parry also said that the people who end up more depressed is because their therapist is “not practising properly” ,and you should get a new therapist. A good therapist can help you overcome and understand your feelings (‘Hotline Information’). They will help find the problem and work on solving it. Therapy can also help you overcome fears, improve relationships, cope, and get rid of bad habits (drinking, drugs, etc.).

Teenage Survival Skills will help prevent and prepare middle schoolers for upcoming years. The classes encourage and lead them carefully through tough situations they might face.

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