Swampscott High School. Item File Photo
By Gayla Cawley
SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott High School is putting the focus on mental health.
On Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the high school for two new programs aimed at providing a supportive environment for students suffering from mental or emotional health concerns.
Last March, plans for a transition program for students were presented at a school committee meeting. A major component of the program is to transition students back to high school after they have been hospitalized. The hospitalizations could be for mental health issues or physical conditions that have caused them emotional stress.
At the time, Craig Harris, school psychologist, said 12 students had been hospitalized last school year, but updated numbers were not provided on Tuesday. Five of those students had been hospitalized multiple times.
Today, that transition program has a name, Swampscott Integrated for Transition (SWIFT), and is specifically designed to address the needs of students re-entering school after absences, due to serious mental problems or medical illness.
In the United States, one in five adolescents has a serious mental health disorder and 5 to 9 percent of teens have mental health concerns so severe that hospitalization and prolonged absences from school become necessary, according to information provided by Superintendent Pamela Angelakis. These at-risk youth disproportionately drop out of school, attempt suicide, abuse alcohol and drugs and function poorly at home, school and socially.
Swampscott is joining about 40 high school transition programs throughout Massachusetts. The school, which has an enrollment of about 700 students, is partnering with Brookline Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) for technical assistance. Swampscott has created the first transition program on the North Shore based on the BRYT model.
Transition programs work to support students returning to school, helping them to adhere to treatment plans, avoid relapse and stay in school. SWIFT offers students a small, comfortable environment, where they can access individualized academic and emotional supports. It is intended to be a short, 8-12 week program, which will include intensive communication with parents, educators and outside clinicians.
The Harbor Program will also be spotlighted next week during the ceremony. Harbor is a special education program for students with emotional disabilities that will provide a supportive learning community with direct case management to facilitate student progress. Students will work with staff to develop emotional regulation skills, while managing academic expectations and pressure. Counseling is an integral part of the program, along with close home-school communication. Harbor will also be a home base for students, providing assistance throughout the school day.
With Harbor and SWIFT, Stephen Walsh, special educator, will act as academic coordinator, Harris will provide clinical support and Andrea Jordan will offer general program assistance.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.