Upper School Student Voices brought Middle and Upper School students together on Wednesday to continue to destigmatize discussions of mental health. A Zoom panel featuring several members of the Westridge Student Support Team—including Director of Counseling & Student Support Dr. Lisa Carruthers, Counselor Sheri Johnson, Upper School Learning Support Specialist Tami Millard, and Human Development Teacher Regina Wei—along with Upper School Peer-to-Peer representative Shirlynn C. ’21 and Student Voices leader Saffron G. ’22., discussed the impact of the pandemic on students’ mental health and highlighted the resources they have available to them.

“One of the reasons why this panel is so important, is because this time has been incredibly challenging and it’s so important to know about the resources that Westridge provides,” said Wei. “There can be cultural stigmas around seeking help for mental health, but everyone needs support sometimes and there is no shame in asking for help or allowing yourself to feel whatever you feel.”

Dr. Carruthers raised a common misconception she has identified among the students she talks to. “Many of the students I meet with tell me that they think that they are the only ones who need support,” she said. “But that’s not true at all. You are not alone.” Carruthers encouraged students to reach out to an adult they feel comfortable talking to or one of the many Peer-to-Peer students who are trained to provide a listening ear from a peer’s perspective.

Johnson and Wei both pointed out that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx communities, and that in addition to the daily stresses of being a minority in a predominantly white school community, students from minority racial backgrounds may now be dealing with compounded pressures and trauma brought on by the pandemic. “What affects your family also affects you,” noted Johnson. “And I want to acknowledge that for many of our students, getting support can be a challenge.”

“Generally, I do think we should all practice more self-care and self-compassion,” said Wei, who frequently teaches this principle in her yoga classes. “Let’s take adequate breaks, move our bodies, and even give ourselves a break from achieving. We are very ambitious at Westridge, but it’s okay to let ourselves off the hook sometimes, especially now.”

While the pandemic has emphasized and, in many cases, exacerbated the lack of access to mental health resources nationwide, there are also instances of hope and much available support within Westridge and the surrounding Pasadena community.

“This pandemic really pushed support professionals in Pasadena to come together in support of mental health and to figure out how we can get through this,” remarked Millard. “I have to give a shout out to Westridge, because it’s really part of our DNA to think about student wellbeing and to back that up with resources.”

When asked about things students can do to be there for one another, Saffron answered, “Checking in with each other is really important. You don’t have to know someone is suffering to reach out. Just be there to listen and know that there are people who want to see you do well.”

Johnson added, “Think about what brings you joy. Whatever is helpful and/or healing for you—let’s do more of that! Is it dancing around to music in your room? Going for a walk outside with your dog? Disconnecting in a healthy way can really help us recharge, and I believe self-care should not be on the backburner right now. It should be consistent throughout our day.”

How to Contact the Student Support & Wellness Team

Please reach out to your division director, advisor, dean, or learning support specialist at the first sign that a student is struggling emotionally or academically. Contact information for the Student Support & Wellness team is listed below.

Lisa Carruthers, Psy.D.
Director of Counseling & Student Support
lcarruthers@westridge.org

Cynthia Conteas-Wood, RN, M.P.A.
Director of Health & Wellness
cconteas-wood@westridge.org

Sheri Johnson, M.S., M.A. MFT
Part-Time Counselor
sjohnson@westridge.org

Tami Millard, M.A., M.Ed.
Upper School Learning Support Specialist
tmillard@westridge.org

Susie Murdock, M.Ed.
Lower & Middle School Learning Support Specialist
smurdock@westridge.org

Bonnie Martinez, M.A.
Upper School Dean of Student Support
bmartinez@westridge.org

Masami Hansen
Lower & Middle School Dean of Student Support
mhansen@westridge.org

Sarah Simon, M.A.
Human Development Coordinator
ssimon@westridge.org

Regina Wei, M.A., M.A., MFT
Human Development Teacher
rwei@westridge.org