Access to Mental Health Services Makes Healing Possible
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Contributor: Mary Wisnet, Community Development Officer at United Way Fox Cities
In the past six years, United Way's
PATH (Providing Access to Healing) for Students has been
implemented in ten school districts in the Fox Cities, providing
830 students with school-based mental health therapy.
United Way's PATH for Students has a significant impact on the
lives of the youth it serves. Recently, NBC26 did a special report that highlighted
the impact that PATH has had in area schools including the fact
that eight out of ten students who have utilized the program have
improved their overall academic performance. Cassie*, a
freshman at a local high school, was a student in need of PATH's
services; she had dreams of one day going to medical school, but
suffered from debilitating anxiety.
Early in the school year, Cassie began having difficulty making it
to her first class because of her anxiety. When Bob, one of the
school counselors, became aware of the problem, he arranged to have
Cassie meet him at the office each morning and he escorted her to
class. By October, Cassie's condition had gotten worse and she had
difficulty making it into the building. Bob knew that without
treatment, Cassie's anxiety would only increase. He had seen it
before; she would begin missing school and, by the end of the year,
she would probably drop out.
Fortunately, PATH was offered at Menasha High School and Bob
referred her to the program. By Christmas she was showing
improvement and was attending class regularly. Cassie has since
graduated from Menasha High School. She got a summer job in retail
and is now attending a local college.
Want to learn more? United Way Fox Cities is
facilitating a panel discussion about United Way's PATH for
students on Monday, March 9 from noon to 1:00 p.m. with
representatives from United Way Fox Cities, Catalpa Health, Family
Services and Lutheran Social Services. The panel discussion will
take place at Catalpa Health (please use entrance #2 on the south
end of 444 N. Westhill Boulevard). RSVP to attend the event.
*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the
individual involved.