By Julia Kemp
Although many Westmont students struggle with mental health during the winter time, many are not aware of the mental health resources right here at Westmont. One of the biggest things that you can do to help yourself or a friend recover from mental health struggles is to find help from a professional. If you want to find a good resource on campus, there is a mental health therapist located in the Student Services Center. Westmont offers CASSY school-based therapy for all students; a therapist named Ms. Del Real can talk with students on campus about their mental health struggles and/or problems at school. To contact Ms. Del Real or to set up a CASSY appointment, you can submit this CASSY Electronic Referral Form and email your counselor. In order to begin counseling, you must have two forms of consent from a parent or guardian.
Even if you don’t feel comfortable going to the school-based therapist here at Westmont, remember that getting professional help for a loved one or for yourself is one of the best ways to receive necessary help. If you or someone close to you is at threat of suicide*, you can virtually connect with a mental health professional through:
- The Society for Preventing Teen Suicide: www.sptsusa.org/teens
- The Crisis Text Line: www.crisistextline.org
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: English: 1-800-273-TALK, Spanish: 1-888-628-9454
- The Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 1-855-278-4204
*If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room
If you need information or help for a specific mental health issue, you can look online at:
- National Institute of Mental Health: www.nimh.nih.gov
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America: www.adaa.org
- National Eating Disorders Association: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
- National Alliance on Mental Illness, Santa Clara County: www.namisantaclara.org
- Santa Clara County Department of Behavioral and Alcohol/Drug Services: www.sccgov.org/sites/bhd
- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: www.drugfree.org
Westmont is filled with loving teachers, students, and staff who are always there to help with mental health struggles of Westmont students. Remember that you are not alone, and that there are so many people here at our school who want to make sure that you are happy and healthy.