Sherman ISD counselors found student mental health crisis decreased during 2024-25 school year

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - Bills, insurance, and car troubles. Just a few stressors for adults that don’t always align with students’. A few Sherman Bearcats share how they get over day-to-day stressors.

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Senior Bearcat London Wecker says there’s been many decisions to make leading up to her choice to move to California for college.

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“It’s definitely college decisions and everything,” said Wecker. “Trying to figure out which college fits best.”

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Junior Bearcat Shepherd Martin says this time of year brings multiple assessments that call for endless studying.

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“Academic achievement is a big one,” said Martin. “AP tests, finals and college coming up is super stressful.”

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Senior Bearcat Josiah Okeri took dual-credit classes this semester at Grayson College, during which he struggled with imposter syndrome. He plans to finish his prerequisites for nursing school at Grayson College and apply to nursing school to later become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

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“When you get somewhere, you’ve earned to be somewhere but you feel like you’re not enough,” said Okeri.

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These are all things that a listening ear and a safe environment at home can help with. Student Support Counselor Amy Milner says there’s another culprit of stress for students and it’s right at their fingertips.

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“With social media, students are looking at body image or ‘am I missing out on something?’,” said Milner.

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Martin says social media challenges users’ identity entices students to be like who they see on screen, she and Wecker combat comparison and school stressors with community.

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“It’s reassuring to know that even on a bad day, I have those friends and teachers that are there to lift me up and make me feel good,” said Martin.

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Okeri’s mentality is not to dwell on things he can’t change and rely on faith.

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“I believe in God,” he said. “I sat down with myself, I prayed and read my bible, I went into the scripture.”

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In the past, Milner says students’ mental health issues were ignored.

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“They may have even been disguised as behavioral problems,” said Milner.

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This year, the number of Sherman ISD student mental health crises has decreased, according to Milner, and their support staff have ways to ensure that continues.

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“This generation of students are more willing to talk about mental health and I think that’s linked to the early-on prevention we’re providing,” said Milner.

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Whether it’s their peer-to-peer suicide prevention Hope Squad, 1:1 counseling, or teaching coping strategies thru events like Friday’s popsicle day, prevention is ever-present.

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In addition to Milner as a Sherman High School student support counselor, Mrs. Crocket links students to community resources, and JD Mayes is a behavior specialist who helps students transition from the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program back into high school.

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Originally published at https://www.msn.com/en-us/education-and-learning/secondary-education/sherman-isd-counselors-found-student-mental-health-crisis-decreased-during-2024-25-school-year/ar-AA1EVMQM?ocid=BingNewsVerp