Help and Hope for YOUth

  • Home
  • Find Help

    Find Help Now

    • Crisis Hot Lines
    • Southern Arizona Resource Directory
    • Find Services

    Youth Resources

    • Online Resources
    • Mental Health Organizations
    • Medication Guides
    • Advocacy
    • Mental Health Screening for Youth
    • MHA Mental Health Tests

    Family Resources

    • Resources for Families
    • Legal Resources

    Schools & Youth Organizations

    • Resources for Schools
    • Online Resources
  • Get Involved
    • Join Help & Hope
    • Join a Task Force
    • Volunteer
    • Be An Advocate
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • What is Stigma
    • Mental health vs. mental illness
    • Calendar
    • Steering Committee & Staff
    • Partners & Funders
    • Help & Hope for YOUth Alliance Member Directory
  • News
    • Help & Hope for YOUth Newsletters
    • Help & Hope for YOUth Meeting Summaries
    • Task Force Meeting Summaries
  • Contact
  • Find Help
    • Find Help Now
      • Crisis Hot Lines
      • Find Services
    • Youth Resources
      • Mental Health Screening for Youth
      • MHA Mental Health Tests
      • Online Resources
      • Mental Health Organizations
    • Family Resources
      • Resources for Families
      • Legal Resources
    • Resources for Schools and Youth Organizations
      • Resources for Schools
      • Online Resources
  • COVID-19
Donate
Arcy
Friday, 24 January 2020 / Published in Mental Health, Schools, Students

TUSD students offers free mental health counseling

Depression, anxiety rates rising among students

 
By Hannah Tiede | January 13, 2020 at 2:06 PM MST – Updated January 13 at 2:06 PM

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in children between the ages of 3 and 17 and the rates are rising, according to the CDC.

With social media and academic pressures, even broken homes, many children experience some level of stress.

That’s why the Tucson Unified School District, in partnership with the University of Arizona, is offering free counseling services to students and their families.

Coordinators of the ‘Talk it Out’ program are calling it a “win-win” for the district and the university.

9-year-old Charlis Mendez has made a few visits to a Mental Health Counselor in Training at the Catalina Family Resource Center.

“I was struggling with my friendships and my [school] work because I don’t know Spanish,” said Mendez.

Even a 4th grade student can feel the weight of the world.

“My mom gave me an offer, like ‘Go to counseling’,” she said. “So, I was kind of nervous to go at first. I explained all of my problems to [my Counselor in Training] and she kind of helped me through it.”

Mendez says she learned some coping mechanisms.

“She gave me some breathing tools [for] my anger problems, for my anxiety,” she said. “I hold [my breath] for six seconds … and let it out in four.”

Mendez is one of more than 100 students who have been getting help from the pilot program that’s now being rolled out districtwide.

“Access to services is one of the challenges with mental health,” said Megan Kasper, a Licensed Clinical Coordinator for ‘Talk it Out’. “We actually have 17 student counselors in training. Referrals either come through school counselors or the Family Resource Centers.”

Kasper says the program allows TUSD students get the help they need, while university students get their clinical hours.

From clients with anxiety and depression, to intergenerational traumas, to students dealing with immigration stressors, Counselor in Training, Catherine Fennie, has been getting a lot of experience.

“When students are struggling, they are going to take it out on other students, unfortunately, so it’s nice to see this as an upstream solution,” said Fennie. “There are also a lot of benefits with early intervention, as research has shown.”

Mendez says she has already noticed a difference.

“It makes me feel like my brain is slowing down and it makes me feel calm,” she said.

Free mental health services are being offered weekdays from noon to 8 p.m. at:

  • Catalina Family Resource Center, 3645 E. Pima St., 520-232-8684
  • Palo Verde Family Resource Center, 1302 S. Avenida Vega, 520-584-7455
  • Southwest Family Resource Center, 6855 S. Mark Rd., 520-908-3980
  • Wakefield Family Resource Center, 101 W. 44th St., 520-225-3800
  • Tweet

What you can read next

Surviving Suicide: Stories of Hope Empower Students Struggling with Mental illness
ACLU says schools need more mental health professionals, not police
California launches $50M program for school-based mental health

Donate

 

Stay Informed

Upcoming Events

Mar
16
Tue
11:30 am Education & Training Task Force ...
Education & Training Task Force ...
Mar 16 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87006687480?pwd=L0JZdW42RWRNSSsydC9MYkhEc2tpZz09 Meeting ID: 870 0668 7480 Passcode: 504652 One tap mobile +12532158782,,87006687480# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,87006687480# US (Houston) Dial by your location +1
Mar
17
Wed
4:00 pm Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Mar 17 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83722584301?pwd=Z3FVeE53eWdVdHJJcDJDbFJ4bmI5Zz09 Meeting ID: 837 2258 4301 Passcode: 072878 One tap mobile +16699006833,,83722584301# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,83722584301# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location
4:00 pm Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Mar 17 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83722584301?pwd=Z3FVeE53eWdVdHJJcDJDbFJ4bmI5Zz09 Meeting ID: 837 2258 4301 Passcode: 072878 One tap mobile +16699006833,,83722584301# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,83722584301# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location
Apr
6
Tue
12:00 pm Advocacy & Policy Task Force Mee...
Advocacy & Policy Task Force Mee...
Apr 6 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84259845021?pwd=Wmtndk1jVTYzdGFRL0dFZlQzRHNBZz09 Meeting ID: 842 5984 5021 Passcode: 649153 One tap mobile +12532158782,,84259845021# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,84259845021# US (Houston) Dial by your location +1
Apr
20
Tue
11:30 am Education & Training Task Force ...
Education & Training Task Force ...
Apr 20 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87006687480?pwd=L0JZdW42RWRNSSsydC9MYkhEc2tpZz09 Meeting ID: 870 0668 7480 Passcode: 504652 One tap mobile +12532158782,,87006687480# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,87006687480# US (Houston) Dial by your location +1
Apr
21
Wed
4:00 pm Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Capacity Building and Sustainabi...
Apr 21 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Arcelia Cornidez is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83722584301?pwd=Z3FVeE53eWdVdHJJcDJDbFJ4bmI5Zz09 Meeting ID: 837 2258 4301 Passcode: 072878 One tap mobile +16699006833,,83722584301# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,83722584301# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML
  • HOME
  • GET HELP
    • Get Help Now
    • Southern Arizona Resource Directory
    • Find Services
    • Online Resources
    • Mental Health Organizations
  • FAMILY RESOURCES
    • Resources for Families
    • Legal Resources
  • RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS
    • Resources for Schools
    • Online Resources
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Join Help & Hope
    • Join a Task Force
    • Volunteer
    • Be An Advocate
  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • What is Stigma
    • Steering Committee
    • Partners & Funders
  • NEWS
  • CONTACT
Please Donate

Help & Hope for YOUth is an initiative of Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP), a 501(C)3 non-profit organization (EIN 86-0669087).

Arizona Youth Partnership
azyp.org
7575 W. Twin Peaks. Rd. Suite 165
Tucson, AZ 85743

© Copyright Help & Hope for Youth. All rights reserved. Tucson Web Design by Tagline Media Group.

TOP