New Haven High School students know a little more about how to manage their emotions having attended a special training session led by Cathy Mott and held in conjunction with May’s Mental Health Awareness Month and Action Day.
“I want to help students understand the power and control that comes from being able to name, understand, and manage their emotions,” said Mott, a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) workshop leader, author, executive coach, keynote speaker, and trainer with more than 25 years of experience, in social and emotional intelligence (SEL) coaching.
“It’s important to me,” she said. “I have helped thousands of leaders improve their mental health and wellness by increasing their emotional intelligence. Many of these leaders say, ‘I wish I would have learned this back in high school.”
So her mission at New Haven High School was to give students the tools they need to deal with their emotions.
Recent data from the CDC underscores the prevalence of mental health challenges among students, with more than 4 in 10 students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and nearly one-third experiencing poor mental health.
Additionally, over 1 in 5 students seriously considered attempting suicide, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide, highlighting the urgent need for support and resources.
Those who attended Mott’s training session were ninth-graders.
”She emphasized SEL’s impact on their learning and enriched their SEL vocabulary,” said William Timmerman, principal of New Haven High School.
“Her insights provided valuable perspectives on fostering emotional well-being and academic success. We look forward to further discussions with our students about their experiences and exploring potential partnerships as we move into the 2024-2025 school year,” added Timmerman.
Mott said the program she presented provides students with interactive valuable information that allows students some time for self-reflection of their emotions while also validating them.
“As an educator, something I have noticed since COVID is that students have been having a hard time identifying and self-regulating their emotions. Especially when it comes to anxiety and disappointment.”
The program gives them valuable coping skills to process how they are feeling and would help them learn to overcome and cope with them.
“I know some adults who can’t identify or regulate their emotions, so teaching them this skill in high school, before they enter the workforce is invaluable,” she added.
Teacher Jessica Schlegelmann said the timing was perfect.
“I think it really resonated with them, especially at this time of year when their stress level is high,” Schlegelmann said, of her ninth-grade students who are facing final exams and other yearend activities. “I think the program provided them with the told they need to manage stress and increase their emotional intelligence.”