The NPHS Wellness Center supports all pupils
Teenage years are often filled with complex problems which result in mental health issues that many don’t know how to handle. NPHS hopes to alleviate some of those challenges through the Wellness Center, located in the E-building, and was established last year.
Paige Pensivy, Mental Health Clinician, runs the room and is a professional clinical counselor and mental health clinician. “The purpose of the wellness center is to provide therapeutic and social-emotional services on campus,” Pensivy said.
The room is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., constantly assisting students. People can walk in or schedule an appointment through QR codes. “Students have access to a QR code in their teachers’ classrooms,’’ Pensivy said.
The safe haven provided by the Wellness Center deals with tier one resources such as giving students foundational support, through services such as coping skills, talk therapy, and self regulation. The hope of this is to prevent student escalation crisis situations.
It has become evident that with the rise of expectations placed on students, their stress levels have skyrocketed. Andrea Perales, a wellness counselor intern at NPHS noted that the amount of visitors at the Wellness Center has increased too. “To be exact we’ve had 500 [students visit] this [September]. The numbers keep growing,” Perales said.
Although the demands placed on students cause pressure, there are many other reasons students visit. “It could be tests, homework, a teacher or just classes. Friendship is a big one as well. Any relationship, friendship, boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, family concerns, even work outside of school, are all examples,” Perales said.
No matter how dire an issue may seem, the staff is ready to help by offering coping mechanisms and having students discuss their problems. Elizabeth Bond, sophomore, expressed that it has been a beneficial outlet for her. “It gives me a sense of relief knowing that there’s a place where I’m always welcomed,” Bond said. “Knowing that I can talk to somebody at any time is awesome.”
Bond acknowledges that facing one’s fears can be challenging, however she urges everyone to visit the center at least once. “Get over your ego. You may be too cool to talk about mental health, whatever that’s on you,” Bond said. “No one is going to judge you.”
With mental health, it is vital to learn to deal with emotions and apply it to daily life. “The hope is that the coping skills offered are universal so when you go to college, visit a friend’s house, go to school or go home, you can use them,” Pensivy said.
