Newington High School expands grant-funded mental health program; students report reduced substance use and high anxiety

Newington School District officials and students described a two-year, grant-funded mental health program at Newington High School that combines a classroom seminar, one-on-one counseling and schoolwide prevention efforts.

The program is led by former Spanish teacher and current SEL counselor Miss Redmond, who told the Newington Board of Education the role includes a mental health seminar course, substance-use education and counseling, and planning schoolwide programs. Redmond said the seminar has been full and produced a wait list; she expects additional sections next year to meet demand.

Board members heard why the district funded a counselor focused on prevention and early intervention. Redmond summarized student survey findings and class activities: "anxiousness has been at the top both years in a row," and students also commonly reported feeling exhausted, distracted and self-critical. She told the board that in a 2023 advisory survey about 652 students responded; she also later referenced two follow-up surveys with 457 online responses and 507 paper responses after a school assembly. Dr. Brummet stressed the scale of need: "56.7 percent of students report being anxious," and added later in the meeting that "98 percent of people engage in [a destructive behavior] to cope with stress," highlighting the program’s prevention focus.

Redmond described interventions and partnerships used in the course: a gratitude and daily-reflection routine, "quote of the day," mindfulness sessions with instructor Amy Anzero, yoga, art-based exercises and a weekly "feel-good Friday" where students exchange supportive notes. The class also invited community partners for sessions, including youth services staff Kayla Hendrickson and Brett Mannion who provided QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-awareness training; local mindfulness providers; CCAR and other substance-use organizations; and Monte Nido (an eating-disorders treatment program) to address body-image and eating-disorder concerns this semester.

Redmond said the program also supports students who come to school after disciplinary incidents: as part of a restorative approach, she meets with students for education and counseling instead of immediate removal. She described a multi-session follow-up plan for students caught with substances: "we've set an 8 around 8 sessions where they would sit with me, for education counseling and goal setting," with scheduling done around students’ school periods and availability.

Redmond provided counts showing the program’s caseload and referrals: last year six students were formally referred by school discipline processes and eight self-referred; this school year she said 10 students were referred and five self-referred. She reported one student had a second offense that led to expulsion before she could meet the student. Redmond also said some students who started in the class have continued meeting with her; one student remains in counseling twice weekly.

Students in the class and the Stop the Stigma club described course activities and benefits. Willow read an 11th-grade student’s written testimony that credited the class and counselor with recovery: "I am now 75 days sober due to her help, and I couldn't be more grateful." Other students described quitting social media for three weeks, using behavioral tools introduced in class, and feeling the course created a safe, nonjudgmental community: "It makes you feel good about yourself... I feel so much better and have more confidence," one wrote in a course survey.

Redmond said the program collects data to guide programming; she described plans for a student-led mental health panel during Mental Health Week, expansion of mindfulness field-trip opportunities, continued guest speakers for addiction awareness, and development of a peer support group next year for students with family members who use substances.

No board vote was taken on the program at this meeting. Board members praised the work and urged continuation and broader outreach so students not enrolled in the elective can access the messages and resources. Superintendent Dr. Brummet and board members noted the program’s potential to keep students in school and reduce isolation, a stated goal that aligns with the district’s disciplinary and counseling practices.

The board asked administrators to keep building partnerships and to share parent-facing information about the services and how families can connect with the counselor.

Ending: Board members repeatedly commended the students and staff for the presentation and asked Redmond to continue developing schoolwide offerings and parent communication. Redmond said she will refine the evaluation and outreach plan for next year and pursue options for broader student access to mental health education and supports.