Across the state of Oregon students are suffering from mental health challenges. At the Exchange, we’ve talked to state leaders and mental health trainers who are working to meet the growing needs of on-campus mental health professionals throughout the state. Jackson County has been highlighted as one of the state’s biggest challenges in meeting the needs of students. Providing youth an educational experience around their social and emotional well-being is a proven method of preventing mental health crises. SEL curriculum, or Social Emotional Learning is one approach.
Joining the Exchange with JPR Senior Producer Natalie Golay as host is Britt Humphrey, a Certified School Counselor & Child Development Specialist at Willow Wind Community Learning Center in Ashland. She led her students through a process of producing public service announcements as part of an interactive SEL lesson.
The project opened an aperture of awareness and understanding of the challenges facing others in the greater society. The students demonstrated their creativity in producing a public service message regarding issues they care about. Joining their teacher in the studio are Sabina, Emma and Viola to discuss the project, their PSAs, and their overall impression of what they learned through the process.