The VHS Counseling Team supports the wellness and mental health of our students. Refer to the resources below including emergency and crisis resource contact information.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Emergency Services: 911
In an effort to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health concerns, the Leander ISD Counseling Services team is excited to debut a Mental Health Minute video series. The videos will be shared weekly through students' Class of 20XX Google classroom. We will also be including the Mental Health Minutes for each month within the VHS Counseling Newsletter.
The videos were written and recorded by Leander ISD Counseling Services team members. Some of the topics covered will include managing stress, healthy coping skills, staying grounded, talking about your feelings, making and building positive friendships, and how and when to ask for help. Each video ends with the reminder that “if you or someone you know is struggling, tell a trusted adult."
September Mental Health Minute Series
Mental Health Minute Launch with Dr. Gearing // English (September 5)
Building Connections // English, English & Spanish Script (September 12)
What kind of help can the school provide? // English, Spanish (September 19)
Self-Advocacy // English, English & Spanish Script (September 26)
October Mental Health Minute Series
Size of the Problem // English (October 3)
Why Mental Health is Important // English, Spanish (October 10)
Managing Conflict // English, English & Spanish Script ( October 17)
Mindfulness // English, English & Spanish Script October 24)
Ways to Chill // English, English & Spanish Script (October 31)
November Mental Health Minute Series
What is Therapy? // English, Spanish (November 7)
Tools for Managing Strong Emotions (Grounding Exercise // English, Spanish (November 14)
Is My Friendship Unhealthy? // English, Spanish (November 28)
December Mental Health Minute Series
Your Brain! // English, English & Spanish Script (December 5)
Failure and Disappointment // English, Spanish (December 12)
January Mental Health Minute Series
Being You // English, English and Spanish Script (January 2)
Boundaries // English (January 9)
What to Do if a Friend Needs Help // English, Spanish (January 16)
Self-Compassion // English, Spanish (January 23)
Circle of Control // English, English and Spanish Script (January 30)
February Mental Health Minute Series
How to Identify Your Support Network // English, English & Spanish (February 6)
How to Make Friends // English, Spanish (February 13)
What is Therapy? // English, English & Spanish (February 20)
Healthy Relationships // English, English & Spanish (February 27)
March Mental Health Minute Series
All bodies are good bodies // English, Spanish (March 6)
Stigma // English, Spanish (March 20)
One-way friendships // English, Spanish (March 27)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
Austin Integral Care // 24-Hour Crisis Line and Mobile Outreach Team: 512-472-HELP (4357)
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services // 24-Hour Crisis Line and Mobile Outreach Team: 1-800-841-1255
Amare Outreach is a 501(c)3, student-led, non-profit organization that advocates for survivors of abuse and mental illness. Their mission is carried out in two ways: by providing an online platform for survivors to anonymously share their personal stories - our website; and by traveling to schools, churches and other organizations to host speaking events.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-34 years old according to the CDC. We can all help fight those numbers by educating ourselves about the warning signs of suicide and knowing how to get help for someone who may be having suicidal feelings. There are many different risk factors that may cause a person to feel this way. Below are some warning signs that you should be aware of. It is not a complete list due to the fact each person is unique and may show different warning signs. If you witness any of the following or have a concern, please report it immediately! We know that you may witness some of these warning signs on the weekends, at night, or some other time when a school counselor may not available so we have provided instructions in the pages below for how to report something when you are not at school.
If you are at school, tell a counselor right away! Do not wait. The sooner we can help the individual, the better.
Report the concern through Anonymous Alerts. Remember to give us as many details as possible so we can act quickly.
If it is night, a weekend, during summer, or anytime you are not at school, call 911 or 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline!
You can also report self-harm and suicidal comments or photos on social media sites. See the pages below for specific instructions
WHEN IN DOUBT, REPORT IT TO SOMEONE.
TALK // If a person talks about:
Being a burden to others
Feeling trapped
Experiencing unbearable pain
Having no reason to live
Killing themselves
BEHAVIOR // Specific things to look out for include:
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online for materials or means
Acting recklessly
Withdrawing from activities
Isolating from family and friends
Sleeping too much or too little
Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
Giving away prized possessions
Aggression
MOOD // People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:
Depression
Loss of interest
Rage
Irritability
Humiliation
Anxiety
Click on the links below for instructions on how to report on the different social media platforms. These suggestions are directly from the social media sites do not replace notifying an adult if you see a concern!
"Being a teen can be really stressful! Mindfulness is a powerful way to handle stress, and live life more fully. Mindfulness is all about living fully in the present moment, without judgment, and with an attitude of kindness and curiosity. It’s about breathing, noticing what’s happening right here and now, sending a gentle smile to whatever you’re experiencing in this moment (whether it’s easy or difficult), and then letting it go. You can be mindful anytime, anywhere, no matter what you’re doing. It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy to do, especially when you are stressed! This website provides information, tools, and resources to help you get started." (Mindfulness for Teens)
Mindfulness Websites for Teens:
Mindfulness & Wellness (LISD resource)
Stress is pressure or tension that a person is experiencing. A certain amount of stress in life is normal and healthy i.e. excitement, hitting a deadline
Constant Stress however, is damaging to your health. Please speak to an adult if you are concerned about your current stress or that of a friend!
Easily agitated
Feeling overwhelmed
Feeling bad about yourself, lonely, or depressed
Low energy
Insomnia
Nervousness and shaking
Headaches
** Please note: Symptoms can vary between people
Here are some things to consider in order to reduce stress:
Breathe!
Manage your time
Connect with others
Talk about it
Take a "time out" to find your happy place
Get Active!
Take care of yourself: eat right, get some sleep, go out in the sunshine
Acknowledge when you've hit your limit
Resources:
Stress Management Cheat Sheet (from the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center)
Attend tutorials: check with your teacher first to see when he or she offers these, then sign up! Teachers usually have tutorials before school or during Pit. Sign up in the PIT portal or email your teacher to let them know you are coming. This not only helps your teacher plan, but also holds you accountable.
Form a study group: Get a group of friends who are also taking the same course and study together. Sometimes it helps you to understand a concept better when you explain it to someone else. PIT is a great time for this. Simply ask other students in your PIT class as long as it’s ok with your teacher.
Stay organized: Use a planning device of some sort. It can be a planner that you write it, an app, pictures you take of assignments with your phone, etc. You just need something that will help aid in helping you remember all that goes on in your day so you don’t forget the test or homework assignment that is coming up! Plan ahead so you are not up cramming the night before!
Speak with your teacher: Your teachers are here to help you. Talk to them if you are concerned about a concept, a test, project, etc.
Seek out more help if needed: Some subjects are more difficult than others to grasp. Many of your teachers can give you resources to access to aid in your understanding like using the online textbook or teacher website. Leander ISD endorses tutors from More than A Teacher who can personalize a tutoring schedule for you when you are stuck on a certain subject. There are other organizations out there as well that may be worth checking into.
Get involved: Students who are involved tend to balance their time and find personal confidence and gain peer support in their academics
Crash Course Study Skills
#1 Taking Notes
#3 Memory
#8 Test Anxiety
#10 Exercise
Counselors are here to support families the best we can. We want our families to know that there is assistance available regardless of the need. Where the school resources end, the community begins. The Mental Health Resource Guide and the Community Resource Guide offer a comprehensive list of services provided by our community for a variety of needs (more details on the LISD Mental Health page).
Provide short-term individual and group counseling with students and/or guardian(s)
Provide case management services
Conduct assessments and provide referrals to community agencies for mental health issues
Submit referrals to community agencies for basic needs assistance
Provide parenting support
Provide community outreach
Support for consultation with LISD school personnel
Support inter-agency collaboration and coordination
Facilitate crisis intervention
Provide training to campus staff on crisis systems and processes
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug education programs in schools
Individual and small group counseling
Tobacco cessation classes for middle and high school students
Voluntary Drug Testing Program for middle and high school students
Substance abuse assessments
Rehab.com Texas Addiction Guide
Bluebonnet Trails Suicide Prevention Handout for Teens
National Association for Mental Illness Mental Health Facts
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Distracted Driving: Things Teens Should Know
Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania, by Frank Bruni
A "FIT" Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity, by Challenge Success (Oct.2018)
Open Letter to College Applicants (and their Parents), by Paul Franz (Oct. 2018)
Parenting Teens with Love and Logic, by Foster Cline, MD & Jim Fay
iGen, by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D