PEORIA, Ill. – Studies show more and more students in K-through-12 schools nationally are seeking help for their mental health.
Peoria Public Schools are no exception.
OSF Strive Trauma Recovery is helping District 150 students get that help, with more teachers as well being concerned about students having depression, anxiety, and trauma.
“I don’t want students to have to deal with this,” said Samantha Schubach, OSF Strive supervisor, to 25 News. “I don’t want this to have to be their normal and unfortunately because it is their normal. They become resilient to it, or it’s just their every day and that makes us worried for their wellbeing. It’s resounding how resilient our students are.”
Schubach says that resiliency comes despite the fact that of all the recent shootings in Peoria, six of them had teenage victims.
Strive started two years ago making periodic visits to Peoria schools. Now, they’re in each school at least once a week.
“We started at Peoria High School about two years ago with off and on days and now we’re permanently there a day to a day and a half a week dependent on student need, and it keeps increasing so we keep increasing our days there,” said Schubach.
Students can sign up for help in their counselor’s office at each school. There’s also a confidential online referral form, or parents can call (309) 308-2030.
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