Students ask for full-time counselors

Students at Monday's school board meeting requested full-time counselors, citing the stress of the recent deaths of fellow students, and bullying and violence that have taken a toll in the last few months. 

They asked for on-site and text-based counseling and suggested a program called Only7Seconds out of Chelan, which works with schools to address youth loneliness and prevent self-harm. 

ASB President Riley Ayling said she had a phone conversation with the executive director of the program last week.

"I don't want to sit in another funeral for a friend," Ayling said at the meeting, the night before the first day of school. 

While in-person counselors are in short supply, a new state program called HearMeWA launched early this summer to provide a way for youth and concerned adults to find help and report concerns. Coming from the state attorney general, the program was built with input from youth advisors around the state.

"Young people in rural communities often face unique mental health challenges," said Noah Aquino, a Youth Advisory Group member in Ocean Shores, in a press release. "The geographic isolation and the close-knit nature of these communities, while supportive, can sometimes lead to feelings of shame or fear of judgment when struggling with emotional health issues. This can be exacerbated by a lack of anonymity, making it difficult for youth to seek help without fear of gossip or stigma."

HearMeWA is available as an app, by texting HearMeWA to 783477, or calling the hotline for a live person: 888-537-1634.

A full story will appear next week on local youth mental health challenges, current resources, and what the school administration is doing for student support.