Oxford High School Tackles Student Depression

Depression and suicide rates are on the rise for students. Recent studies show an increase from 8.7 % to 13.2 % in reported symptoms of major depressive episodes.

“Be true to who you are constantly and consistently, or it will fold on top of you” was just some of the advice given during a peer led discussion centered around depression and suicide.

Those topics were chosen based on a survey given to the students about the biggest issues in their lives today.

“What do you guys need?” said Khakky Brown, ninth grade teacher and RISE coordinator. “What do you feel is not being addressed, what information would you like? And it was an overwhelming response of everything that falls under the mental health umbrella.”

Depression and suicide specifically received the most feedback. Students like Amya Franklin are working to help others overcome their battle with mental health.

“When people know that they mean something to someone it matters, and that they are being heard, it matters, and I just love doing it, and I just love being here, and it’s like my favorite thing ever” said Amya Franklin.

RISE members hold a demonstration with beach balls that advises students not to “carry weight around.”

RISE offers stress management campaigns such as practicing mindfulness and yoga.

“Being mindful and aware of what you are dealing with is normal and knowing how to address it is wonderful especially when your next step is college” said Klaria Holmes, highschool senior and RISE member.

The peer to peer approach included beach balls to show students the importance of bouncing back. The beach balls were used to show the students what to do when life knocks the air out of their beach.  This is just one of the ways Oxford High is handling mental health issues but the district isn’t stopping here.

“Becoming more relationship focused with our students, so we are starting something called the Whole Child Initiative, and it is really just taking a trauma informed approach to all of our interactions with students” said Meg Hayden.