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Southborough Youth Commission readies back-to-school programs, weekly suicide-prevention info sessions
Summary
At its Aug. 12 meeting the Youth Commission’s director outlined two pre-school-year programs for students, weekly September info sessions for suicide-prevention month, and expanded intern-led programming in partnership with town departments and Northborough Health and Human Services.
The Southborough Youth Commission heard an extended director’s report Aug. 12 outlining two new back-to-school programs, a slate of suicide-prevention and mental-health info sessions in September and October, and greater use of interns to expand services.
Director Sarah Mikas said the commission will offer Successful Start for elementary students and Rising Titans for students transitioning into high school, with content on managing anxiety, forming friendships and executive-functioning skills such as organization and time management. “We’ve had a lot of interest in the program already,” Mikas said, and the Commission will run Rising Titans in partnership with Northborough Health and Human Services.
Why it matters: the programs aim to help students with emotional adjustment and practical school skills at the start of the year, and the commission is using interns to increase capacity.
The director said the department has two interns, Delaney and Becca, who helped develop programming this summer: “One of our interns, Delaney, worked with the Southborough extended day program to offer leadership training to the CITs,” Mikas said, and staff expect to replicate that model for other town programs.
Mikas also reported completing QPR instructor training and scheduled weekly library info sessions for suicide-prevention month in September. Planned topics include understanding depression, navigating the mental-health system, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training and “the value of validation.” She said sessions will be offered in multiple formats — one-on-one office appointments, public sessions at the library, and smaller “private-party” style workshops hosted by community members — to meet different comfort levels.
Other dates and topics noted in the meeting: a QPR-related series in September, an Understanding Depression session tied to National Depression Screening Awareness Day on Oct. 9 at Colonial Gardens, an ADHD session at the library on Oct. 21 and a mindfulness session before the holiday season.
Commissioners and staff asked for opportunities to attend and provide feedback on presentations. Mikas asked commissioners to publicize sessions and volunteer where they can for outreach events such as school open houses and Heritage Day.
The director said rescheduling the September meeting was necessary so she could lead some of the library presentations; commissioners tentatively agreed to a remote meeting on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. and an in-person meeting on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. to coincide with a Trendline presentation of the community needs assessment.
A staff member and commissioners emphasized that uptake often favors private or small-group formats; Mikas encouraged commissioners to host or help publicize sessions to increase attendance.
