Student Mental Health Matters

WXXI and public media stations across New York State address mental health issues among teens with a new initiative, Student Mental Health Matters. 

Working in collaboration WXXI and NYS public broadcasters kick off this effort with a focused week of programming Saturday, September 23 through Sunday, October 1.

RESOURCES

Student Mental Health Matters: A Toolkit for Educators is designed to equip educators, school staff, and school mental health professionals with critical knowledge and strategies needed to support the mental well-being of their students. Digital media resources — curated from expert mental health organizations and public media sources — cover suicide prevention, stress and anxiety, self-harm, adverse childhood experiences, and social media, and offer:       

• Expert perspectives from mental health professionals, school administrators and educators aimed at helping teachers better understand a topic; 
• Student perspectives that reveal the lived experience of elementary, middle, and high school students;  
• Strategies that provide real-world applications for teachers’ practices.   

All resources and accompanying support materials are intended to be used in a professional development setting and may contain material considered sensitive to some viewers.  

Student Mental Health Matters | A Toolkit for Educators (via PBSLearningMedia.org)

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

New York NOW
Saturday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV Repeats 9/24 at 5 a.m.
New York NOW takes a look at mental health support in afterschool programs. 

Now Return Us to Normal
Monday, September 25 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
In this healing personal essay documentary, a filmmaker and her fellow classmates confront the trauma brought on by their years at a behavior modification boarding school. Watch the trailer.

My Ascension
Monday, September 25 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV
After an attempt to end her life left her paralyzed, Emma Benoit uses her painful experience and ongoing recovery to help others find hope, while shining light on the ongoing youth suicide crisis.

Connections with Evan Dawson
Tuesday, September 26 at 12 noon on WXXI News
Chamique Holdsclaw, former WNBA star, is in town for East House Hope & Recovery Celebration on September 29. She'll be speaking about her sports fame and depression. Connections talks with Chamique about her life and the event.

Connections with Evan Dawson
Wednesday, September 27 at 1 p.m. on WXXI News
Two-parent privilege. It’s becoming rarer for children to grow up with two parents. What are the implications?

Independent Lens: Tiktok, Boom
Thursday, September 28 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Explore the power and complexity of technology through the lens of TikTok and the Gen Z influencers who know it best.

Facing Suicide
Thursday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Explore the crisis of suicide, including risk factors and prevention strategies.  Watch the trailer.

Scattering CJ
Saturday, September 30 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV
One mother's efforts to heal after her veteran son's suicide unleashes humanity's goodness. Watch the trailer. 

New York NOW
Saturday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV Repeats 10/1 at 5 a.m.
The team interviews an interview with Dan Egan American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Hiding in Plain Sight
Sunday, October 1 at 12 p.m. on WXXI-TV 
This film focuses on more than twenty young people who provide an intimate look at what it’s like to experience the symptoms of mental illness, from depression to addiction to suicide ideation. 

Crazy
Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m. on WXXI-TV 
Living with schizophrenia, Eric decides whether to comply with traditional medicine.