MSLA 2017 Conference

Mental Health is an issue in schools around the nation. We live in a time when depression and anxiety are at an all time high among our youth, Massachusetts towns are all affected by this national trend. In the 2014 Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey we found that 30 percent of our high school girls and 14 percent of our high school boys reported "depressive symptoms" in the past 12 months. As early treatment offers the best results for recovery, it is imperative to provide educational programming that will bring knowledge, awareness, and empathy to the issue. As a recipient of a LSTA grant for 2015-2016 school year at Westborough High School Library, this session will give an overview of the grant, resources and curriculum for programming and then allow participants to participate with in depth discussions around mental health in libraries. Focus for discussion will center around breaking stigma, reaching out to the community and the role of libraries in the mental health crisis.