The district’s guidance and counseling department began a program called the Whole Child Series on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Each month community members are invited to the Bolin Center where the topics of discussion focus on the mental health of students and how parents can support them throughout their education.

This new series includes a community-expert panel which answers questions submitted before the session, along with any additional questions parents have during the presentation. Topics include managing one’s stress, how to catch stress early on and ways parents may help create balanced lives for their kids.

“I believe that as a community and school system it’s important that we work together to create an environment that provides challenges, encouragement and belief in our students’ abilities to thrive,” adolescent therapist and panelist David Huffman said. “[The environment needs to be] a climate that recognizes effort and encourages students to make mistakes and learn from the experience.”

Huffman believes it is important to create safe environments for kids to succeed and thrive in school, as these years come with many obstacles. This is the time when kids find themselves and figure out who they are in the world.

“Being an adolescent comes with unavoidable stressors like peer pressure, navigating romantic relationships and being introduced to sexuality and exposed to substance use,” executive director of Grace Counseling Center and panelist Cheryl Rayl said. “Creating a robust support system at home will not eliminate 100 percent of teen stress but does play a role in reducing risk.”

Experts say having a stable setting at home can build a secure foundation for kids’ mental health. Children should feel comfortable coming to their parents during these situations, and they should be able to find consolation through them. Asking a child how their day was can do more than some think.

“Parents can help children feel accepted and understood no matter what they are going through,” Huffman said. “What our children need most from us is a patient listening ear and for us to acknowledge their feelings, even the painful ones.”

As a community, parents and staff are coming together to create this series to recognize the importance of mental health in students. Not only do they hope to raise awareness to the public, but to open discussion between families and assist students in getting the help they need.

“Hopefully [this series] will open up conversations between parents, school staff and teens that can help facilitate solutions,” Rayl said. “This is so important with teen depression being on the rise.”