As students return to the classroom this fall, Rogers InHealth is adding to the resources available for those facing mental health challenges with a new series of videos.
Rogers InHealth, which is a department of Oconomowoc-based Rogers Behavioral Health System, created the series to decrease the stigma behind mental illness and ramp up support for students and families confronting mental health challenges.
The health care provider also hopes the videos empower families and teachers in their support of children coping with mental illnesses.
The videos are social media based, according to Rogers InHealth, and feature a range of perspectives and approaches to overcoming mental health challenges. In addition to highlighting anecdotes of students recovering from mental illnesses, the videos provide tips for teachers to better engage their students with mental health challenges. Many of those tips come directly from strategies employed by teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools, according to Rogers InHealth.
A portion of the videos also cover tips for stronger collaboration among schools, homes and health care providers.
“While navigating school and health systems to get support for children’s mental health challenges can be tough, everyone involved needs to realize that hopeful outcomes are a reality when parents, schools, therapists and the child work together,” said Sue McKenzie, co-director of Rogers InHealth. “These personal stories constantly reinforce this message. The relationship is number one. Second is the team that works together to learn how to best support the child’s resiliency.”
The video content is largely based on the findings of international stigma researcher Patrick Corrigan, of the Illinois Institute of Technology, according to Rogers InHealth. Corrigan’s work points to the conclusion that personal contact with a person recovering from mental illness is the most effective strategy in curbing the stigma of mental illness.
“We have to all work together to eliminate the stigma that discourages individuals and families challenged by mental illness from seeking treatment and support for recovery,” said Susan Urbashich, also co-director of Rogers InHealth. “This site has the potential to help many if they utilize it.”
The videos are accessible at www.rogersinhealth.org/schools.
