Barstow’s guidance counselors are introducing a new mental health program focusing on peer interactions and positive influence.
This year, Barstow’s guidance counselors, Mr. Pedro Miller and Ms. Jessica Chanos, have done a great deal to help ensure the mental health of the students as the pandemic places extreme stress upon students and faculty alike. So far, this attention to emotional well-being has been expressed through weekly check-up forms and frequent assemblies and seminars on various aspects of mental health. However, this is not all the counselors have in store. Their biggest accomplishment yet is introducing the Barstow community to Sources of Strength, a nation-wide organization dedicated to preventing suicide, violence, and substance abuse through student involvement.
But what exactly is Sources of Strength, and what does it mean for the larger Barstow community? In its own words, Sources of Strength is “A best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse.”
According to Ms. Chanos, “It’s about strength building and inspiring and using students to do that.” One of the key aspects of Sources of Strength is its use of student involvement. The program selects “peer leaders” from among students, whose goal is to further the cultural change and de-stigmatization that Sources of Strength encourages from a more organic, peer-to-peer interaction.
Sources of Strength peer leaders are trained to make sure that people have access to help and emotional support, which means helping eliminate any stigma around mental health and vulnerability. Even in the early stages of the Sources of Strength program’s introduction to Barstow, the counselors have seen great results and have even more hope for the future. “Hopefully more adults, more students, more parents, are able to have more honest conversations in the classroom, in the hallways, at home,” says Mr. Miller.
One of the program’s defining characteristics is its positive, proactive approach to mental health—focusing more on the “Strengths” that keep people emotionally healthy and safe. These pillars of support can come from one’s connections, like familial relationships and positive friends, or from one’s own personal habits, like regular exercise or mindfulness activities. Sources of Strength uses peer interaction to recognize, appreciate, and build upon those strengths.
