Here to Help: Why the social-emotional counselors are valuable resources to the East community

All students know how stressful high school can be — the up-till-2-a.m. nights spent studying or completing the five projects you have due the next day can be overwhelming. 

In the midst of the toughest days where you feel as though no one — not your parents, teachers or friends — can understand what you’re going through, there are resources right around the corner to aid in these stressors. This is an everyday circumstance that social-emotional counselors Elizabeth Kennedy and Emily MacNaughton are here to help students work through. 

To students, Kennedy and MacNaughton contribute an essential aspect to the East community in providing a safe environment for students to speak their mind. 

“Students come just to vent or they may be unsure something has stressed them out and they’re not sure how to handle it,” MacNaughton said.

Students can set up an appointment and talk with the counselors whenever they choose — whether it be about feelings of anxiety, depression, exhaustion or lack of motivation, to name a few. Kennedy and MacNaughton are at their service, providing an unbiased confidant to talk with. 

“We’re not here to analyze or diagnose you,” MacNaughton said. “We’re a resource of support.”

Although COVID has altered school, work and social lives, Kennedy and MacNaughton are still maintaining their same core commitment for the wellbeing of their students.

With remote learning being the new reality all students and teachers have to face, the work of these counselors is even more important during this time of isolation. Whether it be over a phone call, FaceTime or Webex, MacNaughton and Kennedy are there, providing a listening ear for support. They make a point to maintain their same student-to-counselor relationship amid the pandemic.

“[It’s about] providing resources to students and families and how they can access community support,” Kennedy said.

According to both social workers, though most students struggle with some kind of mental health issue throughout their time in high school, a considerable amount of them never try to get help, holding their feelings in. The idea of shaming mental health in society also plays a role for students being too reserved to talk about how they feel. 

These students can have a tendency to think their problems aren’t important or worthy enough to bring attention to — but the East social counselors are here to remind them that they are. 

“What people forget is that your mental health is everything you do all day long from the moment you get up in the morning until you lay down to go to sleep” MacNaughton said.

According to MacNaughton and Kennedy, while students can maintain the balance of school and social life, the student can lose track of taking care of themselves.

“I know that high school can be really stressful and really overwhelming at times,” Kennedy said. “But hopefully we are making a positive impact.”