Catholic Charities Leads First Mental Health Day for Students

The first Mental Health Day organized by Catholic Charities of Long Island was presented April 24 to students at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip. The morning offered an early recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

Five cohorts, each with 120 students, attended a panel discussion on mental health in the school auditorium led by four Catholic Charities directors, a session in the gymnasium where two CCLI counselors offered coping strategies, and a peer counseling session, including snacks, for student groups in the cafeteria.

There were also outdoor physical fitness activities, with students playing pickleball and kickball contests and walking laps around the school track.

“Mental health is for everyone. It’s a big part of our well-being,” said Christine Lai, director of CCLI’s Mental Health Services, in response to a question about what she hoped students would gain from participating.

Danielle Campbell, director of Development and Communications, gave a brief overview of CCLI services before moderating a discussion between Lai and Jennifer Perciavalle, director of Addiction Treatment Services, and Gena McSorley, director of Parish Social Ministry.

All agreed that mental health issues are much more openly discussed than in the past, and that confronting and erasing the remaining stigma is a big component of Mental Health Awareness Month. “It’s OK to talk about this, rather than just feeling in isolation by yourself,” Lai said.

McSorley told students that they should feel proud of all they have achieved and remember that every person struggles “with something at some point.” Perciavalle emphasized that effective treatments do exist for mental health and addiction issues. “Things can get better,” Lai said.  

Linda Reich, coordinator of the CARES program, and Linda Merrick, a social worker at the Mental Health Clinic in Bay Shore, combined their efforts at a practical session on coping skills for students seated on the gym bleachers.

Linda M. offered six coping skills that students can use when they feel stressed in their daily lives. They ranged from simply redirecting their attention to another activity for temporary relief to taking an opposite action such as doing a puzzle when feeling angry to having social interaction with friends as a way to check in and feel seen or connected.

Linda R. emphasized the uniqueness of each student, and that no one shouldn’t feel stuck in their current circumstances without the possibility of change. “There never was and there never will be another you,” she explained.

Catholic Charities staff members, wearing matching green T-shirts, the color of Mental Health Awareness Month, helped set up and facilitate sessions. Squeaky green duck toys proved impossible for students to resist. Tricia Callahan, coordinator of volunteers and interns at CCLI, made sure the day was running smoothly and was available for questions at each venue.

Principal Vincent Albrecht set a positive tone at the outset by emphasizing the many staff members and resources that exist at St. John the Baptist to help and guide students, including when they experience difficulties.  “You are loved, remember that,” he said to applause.  

At the opening Mass, Father Dominik Wegiel, the school chaplain, told students that a person’s value is not in the grades they attain, their abilities in sporting contests or their other talents.  “We have value not because of what we do, but because of who we are,” he said, encouraging students to have “a childlike faith” because there’s no situation that God can’t redeem. “We have to have faith to keep walking even when moments are difficult.”

In interviews between laps on the track, two students shared thoughts about their experiences.

One junior said he always tries to be there for his friends, telling them that he cares about what’s happening in their lives, because he wants them to know that they can talk to him about anything.

Another junior said the breathing exercises in the coping session made her feel calmer, saying, “When I’m stressed, maybe I’ll try doing it.” She also agreed with Father Dominik, who stressed that the grade you get on a test doesn’t determine who you are as a person.