Young people faced many emotions during the pandemic, and many experienced constant sadness and hopelessness. Some teens have stepped up to help each other through peer counseling.
fear. confusion. isolation. These are just a few of the many emotions young people have faced during the pandemic. Their lives have changed, and distance learning has become the norm.
“That’s when I started to get really depressed. My grades were terrible. I was really depressed,” said Pomona High School student Jackie Castro. I was sleeping.I had nothing to do.I was like a body, like a shell.I really felt like I had nothing to live for.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of children recently surveyed experience persistent sadness and hopelessness.
“Normally, eighth grade is the year you start to mature. I didn’t get it,” Castro said. “I remember we were driving to school. I had a panic attack in the car. It was like a quiet panic attack and I almost threw up.”
What’s more, when the need for a therapist was at its peak, six out of ten psychologists were unable to accept new patients, according to a study by the American Psychological Association.
The crisis was so devastating that the US Surgeon General urged teens to stand up and help each other. Some high schools already have programs in place. Pomona High School established his counseling program in the 1970s and continues to expand and improve to this day.
“When we started peer counseling, we really realized that children were talking to children. I want you to know what to say and what not to say.School Peer Counseling Teacher Sheila Burke.
What sets this program apart is the rigorous interview process and time commitment. To attend, the student undergoes four months of training before being assigned to a client, and attends classes on Saturdays as well.
“My kids are highly trained, role-playing and practicing, and have the ability to role-play to qualify,” says Balk.
However, these counselors understand their limitations. They never give advice.
“If you are hurting yourself, someone is hurting you, or you are planning to hurt another person, in that situation, you should tell Mr. Bork.” Pomona High School student Eileen Gasiola said, “And at every session, I have to tell my clients, ‘I have to talk to my advisor.'”
Confidentiality also plays an important role.
It’s hard to say, “Oh, Mr. Bork, you know, I was drunk and high at a party and I don’t want to be a snitch.” I’m saving it, because in the past two years, four students have overdosed.
Tragedy strikes this community from time to time, but not many people ask for help.
“We’re still in a culture where guys can’t cry,” Burke said. If you have clothes, food, and a house, why are you depressed?
But these students learned the importance of emotional maturity.
Alex Mejia of Pomona High School said, “As we promoted the program, we realized it was just a stereotype. Men have the right to talk, communicate, and express their feelings.” There should be,” he said.
Balk estimates he has led at least 1,200 peer counselors in his more than 25 years of experience with the program.
“We bridge the cracks,” Bork said. “We are the sand that fills the cracks.”
But an even greater legacy is how many of these counselors are seeking or planning to pursue careers in psychology.
“When I saw that I was able to make a positive difference in people’s lives, it gave me the courage to try psychology,” said Carmen Ayala of Pomona High School. And you feel comfortable in people who look like you, talk like you, and are just like you.”
