Did you know…

• 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year.
• 1 in 6 youth aged 6–17 experience mental health disorders.
• 75% of mental health symptoms appear before age 24.

The month of May is recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month, providing an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall well-being, combat stigma, prioritize self-care, and engage in open conversations about the mental health resources available to us.

Learning Opportunities at ERHS:

Throughout May, we’ll be sharing daily morning announcements with important information, including statistics, warning signs, common mental health conditions, therapy approaches, sleep hygiene tips, healthy social media habits, coping strategies, resources for seeking help and how to talk to friends and parents. “Daily Wellness Tips May 2025 Calendar,” are displayed in the front of the main office, rotunda and student center.

Students are invited to explore a display of popular books at the school library, create bracelets, engage in coloring activities and participate in various games such as Legos, puzzles, chess and board games. They’ll also have the opportunity to craft with our Cricut machine and design fun t-shirts. These activities take place throughout the school year to encourage students to take breaks and engage in self-care.

Sloopy, a 2-year-old Australian Labradoodle Therapy Dog will be visiting throughout the month as part of our ongoing efforts to promote wellness and provide additional support for students’ emotional well-being. Research shows that therapy dogs can help reduce stress, boost mood and create a positive school environment. Therapy dog visits will be limited to specific locations within the school and will be supervised and organized to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all participating students. To participate, parents/guardians must review and sign below and return to the counseling office. Only students with signed consent forms will be permitted to take part in the therapy dog visits. Therapy Dogs.pdf

Special Events & Workshops:

Mon, May 5th: Dr. Vera Feuer, Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Northwell Health (through our School Mental Health Partnership Program) & Dr. Scott Falkowitz, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist & Associate Director of School Mental Health, will join us during our Faculty Meeting for a staff training about “Stress First Aid and How to Support Resilience and Wellness as a Team of School Professionals.”
 

Tues, May 6th: Ms. Jennifer Urist, Health Educator from Cohen Children's Medical Center will conduct a workshop called “Healthy Relationships” for all 7th graders during period 6 in the auditorium.
 

Wed, May 7th: Ms. Jennifer Urist will also lead a workshop titled “Managing Our Wellness” for students in grades 8-12 during lunch periods in the Student Center. This session will cover how sleep, nutrition, stress, thoughts, social interactions and physical activity influence our wellness.

Please encourage your child to sign up on their School Counseling Google Classroom at the following link: Click here for the Google Classroom.

Outreach & Support:

The ERHS Social Workers will be available in the rotunda during lunch periods on May 2, 9, 16, 21 and 29 to distribute materials and resources to students and staff, including educational handouts about anxiety, depression, healthy screen time habits and crisis hotlines as well as  green goodie bags filled with coping skill strategies, ribbons, pens, rubber bracelets with positive messages & 988 resources to help promote mental health awareness.

Helpful Resources:

24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 for emotional or crisis support
24/7 Long Island Crisis Center Hotline: (516) 679-1111
Northwell Health Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Walk-In Clinic at (718) 470-3148
Northwell Health RVC Pediatric Behavioral Health Center: (516) 927-1630
Northwell Health Adult Behavioral Health Urgent Care: Walk-In Clinic at (718) 470-8300

Our message is clear: "We All Have Mental Health and You Are Not Alone!"

Best,

Amy Weissman Canale, LMSW

Grades 7-9 School Social Worker

East Rockaway Jr/Sr High School

(516) 887-8300 option 1, ext. 430

aweissmancanale@eastrockawayschools.org