Student teams helping classmates cope with isolation, avoid substance abuse

Stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation have been common issues among students since before the pandemic.

In a 2019 survey, 30 percent of Wake County high school students reported feeling sad or depressed for more than 2 weeks in a row.

"We know that those numbers are increasing," said Virginia Johnson, substance use prevention director at the Poe Center for Health Education. "The feeling of sadness and anxiety has been increasing, just as their life has been disrupted over the last couple of years. There’s a lot of change that’s happening."

One change the Poe Center has adopted to battle the effects of the pandemic on teens' overall health is by using other students. The center's MindWELL mental wellness program includes a youth empowerment team.

Enloe High School student Rishi Reddy, a member of the team, said he understands what his classmates are going through.

"I’ve been struggling with these kind of same issues, being cut off from their friends, and being alone," said Reddy.

"It’s taking a huge toll on our society, and it’s caused a lot of problems," said his younger brother, Vishnu, who is also part of the student team.

At a recent meeting, team members, including one who joined virtually on a large video screen, brainstormed about ways to increase awareness and identify solutions.

One student said she felt strongly about the current threats of viral infection.

"If we did do something about vaccinations, it could be like our age group getting vaccinated and how that impacts schools," she said.

Eventually, the group chose to focus on improving access to healthy foods, which they said would improve mental wellness among students.

"[It's] working on how are we dealing with stressors in our lives and healthy coping mechanisms," Johnson said.

She emphasized the importance of teens learning how to talk openly about their feelings with people they trust, including their parents.

Likewise, parents need to talk with their children, she said. The Poe Center's "Talk it up. Lock-it-up" campaign is about parents talking with their children about the dangers of substance use and locking up alcohol and prescription medications in the home.

The Poe Center for Health Education is celebrating its 30th anniversary of reaching students across the state, either in person or virtually.