Spotlight on S11

Selah Hartman • November 4, 2024

Whether students just took a tough test, are having issues with friendships or are having a particularly bad day, the SAGE therapists in room S11 are available to provide students with resources and support. SAGE is a nonprofit mental health agency that collaborates with local school districts to offer mental health resources during school hours, and it was established in 2017 by Liz Schoeben as an additional Southern California branch to her other mental health agency, CASSY, located in San Francisco. The organization prides itself on being able to provide free, quality treatment to all students in a safe environment where students can feel comfortable working through mental health challenges or obstacles. Sophomore Summer Kniffin discusses her confidence in the resources that SAGE therapy provides.

“I like being able to openly talk about [most things] and it’s nice to be able to say things to someone who is not involved in whatever I’m dealing with,” Kniffin said. “It’s [helpful] to have a third-party person to talk to, and I have learned a lot of good ways [to] work through [issues].”

Recently, the SAGE therapists on campus have been visiting English classes to hold their suicide prevention presentation, which raises awareness about topics such as anxiety, depression and suicide, offering information on how to get support for students and their loved ones. SAGE therapy also offers peer mediation, where the therapists train student leaders to assist with conflicts. They also offer community outreach through parent education opportunities where they hold presentations highlighting emotional health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the therapists will be working with students to provide different activities during that time.

The three Student Support Specialists on campus are Madison Ho, Brenna Winkle and Sheree Risley Aragon. Aragon is an Associate Clinical Social Worker who has been working with SAGE for two and a half years; Winkle is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) who has been working with SAGE for a year and a half; and Ho is also an AMFT who just started this year. Together, they help students work through conflicts in a safe environment. Room S11 is located at the bottom of the S building and has three rooms: a reception area that has chairs and sofas for students to relax and wind down, and two smaller offices that also have seating and different types of tactile coping tools. The SAGE therapists focus their work on catering to student needs and finding ways to accommodate these needs through various tools such as mindfulness, meditation, reflection, cognitive behavior therapy and communication. Over time, the therapists work toward creating a strong connection with students in an environment where they can feel comfortable visiting regularly if they need to. Students can schedule regular weekly meetings by filling out a session request form, which can be found in the counselors’ office. After receiving the request form, a SAGE therapist will reach out to the student through Microsoft Teams and work with them to find a time that works best for everyone. Winkle comments on the benefits of meeting regularly with students.

“Working with the students I meet with regularly is one of my favorite parts of my job,” Winkle said. “You get to learn a lot about the student as they feel comfortable [being] themselves and you learn a lot about their beliefs, aspirations and [background]. [Hopefully], by the end of the year, we [will] see a lot of improvements in their behaviors and [coping mechanisms].”

The pressure to succeed in school tends to accumulate throughout the school year; throughout finals and testing season, it can be hard for students to deal with those stressful situations. Students often feel overwhelmed by the abundance of responsibilities on top of their home lives, relationships and extracurricular activities. In fact, a 2017 American Psychological Association research study showed that around 83% of high school students identified school as one of their main stressors, with home life, social stress and college worries following close behind. This goes to show that oftentimes students overwhelm themselves to a point where they can’t do their best anymore, which reflects in their academics and behaviors. Aragon mentions how much emotional stress can affect academic performance and how important it is to determine where that stress comes from.

“Emotional stress can bleed into academic success, and if we are not okay ourselves, it is hard for us to be successful in other areas,” Aragon said. “Instead of disciplining a ‘bad student’ for sleeping in class or always being late, we are more interested in checking in with the student and trying to see if there are underlying reasons for that behavior. Through various mental health tools and methods, we can try to change it.”

As one’s mental health declines, so too do their grades and academic performance. To combat a decline in mental health, the SAGE therapists suggest that students remember to prioritize it, whether that be by taking a walk, practicing mindfulness and self-care, doing some simple breathing exercises or simply coming into S11 to talk. As students go about their school year, it is important for them to be aware of how important mental health is and that they should not be afraid to reach out to the many resources that are available to them, especially when they are feeling overwhelmed or if they feel like something is wrong.

The SAGE therapists are always available on campus during school hours and are reachable through Microsoft Teams chats, which they respond as quickly as they are able to. Students can schedule an appointment using the QR code posted on the door or drop by S11 at any time in case of a major crisis, or even if they just need a moment to breathe. Ho reminds students to use the resources available to them whenever they are feeling overwhelmed.

“You are not alone,” Ho assured. “Ask for help and reach out. There are many supports here on campus, and you will get through this.”