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Haverhill students press for clearer mental‑health resources; district pledges outreach and screening review
Summary
Two Haverhill High students presented a survey of the school’s mental‑health supports, saying resources are hard to find; counselors and the superintendent outlined existing programs (SURF, grade‑10 screener, youth wellness coach), flagged limits on universal screening, and agreed to improve outreach and website access.
Boston and Cameron, Haverhill High students, told the school committee their review of mental‑health supports found the district’s resources difficult to locate online and recommended clearer labeling of counselors, routine screenings, a student helpline, and consideration of an on‑site health clinic modeled on nearby districts.
In their presentation the students compared Haverhill to Methuen, Lowell and Lawrence and said the Haverhill Public Schools website “doesn't have many mental health resources readily, like, available,” that the student handbook provides limited guidance, and that some resources require a parent‑filled referral form to access outside services.
Counseling staff and the superintendent responded during a follow‑up Q&A. Counselor staff said the district regularly uses the SURF survey and an ‘‘expert screener’’ for grade 10 and that it previously piloted the GAD‑7 with a subset of juniors; they acknowledged the district does not currently run a universal mental‑health screener at the high school and said a pause was put in place earlier this year because of schedule constraints. The superintendent added the district is building capacity through community partners (NFI, Mass General and C4 Innovations) and a youth wellness coach who can run group and peer supports.
District staff also described an existing anonymous student tip line and QR codes posted in buildings; committee members and students said rebranding that mechanism and posting hotline information around campus could make help more visible and usable outside school hours. Attorney Rosa asked students to prioritize one or two near‑term actions; the students highlighted a helpline and clearer web signposting.
No formal action was taken, but committee members urged staff to follow up with a plan to: 1) audit and make mental‑health links prominent on the Haverhill Public Schools website; 2) explore rebranding the anonymous tip line for mental‑health concerns; and 3) reexamine screening practices and whether limited universal screening could be restarted with appropriate follow‑up capacity. Superintendent and counseling staff committed to ongoing outreach with student groups and to report back through the committee or subcommittees.
