{"id":737,"date":"2022-10-03T15:51:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T15:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/?p=737"},"modified":"2025-05-07T21:07:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T01:07:59","slug":"737","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/2022\/10\/03\/737\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun, Free, and Confidential Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

Norwalk High\u2019s Response To the Mental Health Crisis Among Teens<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Hope Whitley\u00a0<\/a>, Paw Print Reporter<\/span>
\nSEPTEMBER 22, 2022<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

According to the Surgeon General\u2019s report, \u201cDepressive and anxiety symptoms in youth doubled during the pandemic, with 25% of youth experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% experiencing anxiety symptoms.\u201d (Person. (2022, April 5). In Connecticut alone\u00a0 14.4% of adolescents aged 12-17 have reported a major depressive episode in the last four years, specifically spiking around the height of the pandemic. These numbers have not dropped since.\u00a0 With the installment of the Kids In Crisis program Norwalk High is providing confidential mental health assistance to its students.<\/p>\n

Who is behind Kids in crisis?<\/b><\/p>\n

Mr. Milton is the Kids in Crisis counselor here at Norwalk High school and has been working with kids in crisis for\u00a0 over 25 years. Before coming to the bears\u2019 den, Mr. Milton worked at AITE, New Canaan High School, and Staples High School. His Intern Ashley Lopez is a Grad student at Sacred Heart University and is working towards her masters in social work. Both Mr. Milton and Ms. Lopez are dedicated to providing students with a safe space to talk about any mental struggles they are going through. I also had a chance to speak with\u00a0 Ellen Brezovsky, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who is the director of outreach and community Initiatives for Kids In Crisis and the Program Director for the Teen Talk Program.<\/p>\n

What Is Kids In Crisis?<\/b><\/p>\n

So what is Kids in Crisis? Kids In Crisis was established 44 years ago as a shelter for youth. The Teen Talk program started in 1999, is Confidential, individual, and group family counseling covering all issues that are important to the health and well-being of young people.\u00a0 Here at Norwalk High our Kids in Crisis program, better known as \u201cTeen Talk\u201d is set to help students with family conflicts, those suffering from domestic violence, trauma, school stress,\u00a0 depression, anxiety, and those who need support. Teen Talk is present in over 14 schools within Fairfield County at both Middle and High Schools. Ellen Brezovsky, a program director for Teen Talk, told me, \u201cKids In Crisis is a non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1978. Today, Kids In Crisis<\/i>\u00a0provides temporary housing and comprehensive medical, educational and therapeutic support services for children of all ages in Fairfield County.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is the only Connecticut agency that can house children from newborn to age 18, of any gender, including a safe and welcoming environment for youth who face identity-based challenges.<\/p>\n

Mr. Milton describes Teen talk as, \u201can additional resource available to students AT the school but not BY the school.\u201d While Teen Talk operates at Norwalk High, the counselors are guests in the school. Teen Talk counselors provide confidential support while working closely with our school.\u00a0 When asked about the confidentiality of\u00a0 Teen Talk a student said, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel like you are just talking to another teacher who HAS to help you, it feels like the people I\u2019m talking to want to hear me and I can have a real conversation with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Help Available 24\/7, 365 days a year<\/b><\/p>\n

Kids In Crisis is available 24\/7. Yes, even when school is not in session. There is a 24-hour helpline that you can call whenever and wherever you need. You will receive individualized attention from a qualified member of the staff, and they will talk you through whatever you need or direct you to some in-person help. It doesn\u2019t end there! If, for whatever reason, you are feeling overwhelmed at home (or just need a break), Kids In Crisis offers a respite spot for teens. There is a house located in Greenwich, Connecticut, where teens can temporarily stay and receive the extra help they need. An intake process must happen where goals and rules are established, and you and your family must agree that this stay would be beneficial. \u201cIt really is a time for growth.\u201d Says Mr. Milton about the Kids In Crisis home.\u00a0 During your stay the Kids in Crisis staff will drive you to and from school each day and all your basic needs will be met. The average stay is seven days, but Mr. Milton says that past students have stayed for longer or shorter than that. It is all based on need.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Kids In Crisis home in Greenwich, CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to Reach Out<\/b><\/p>\n

In the 2021-22 school year Mr. Milton worked with a total of 207 students, majority seeking help with anxiety, depression, academics, and family conflicts. Ellen Brezovsky thinks the most remarkable part about Teen Talk\u00a0 is the counselors.\u00a0\u201cThey make connections with the students and help them through tough times.\u00a0 They are a support for students throughout the school day. The other great part about Teen Talk and Kids In Crisis is that once the school day ends, our 24 hour Helpline takes over for anyone, students, parents, families, who need assistance.\u201d\u00a0When asked about his favorite part of Kids In Crisis Mr. Milton said, \u201cThe students that are here want to be.. They are asking to be their best self.\u201d\u00a0 If you, or anyone you know is looking for confidential mental health help please reach out to Mr. Milton. He can be reached by email :miltone@norwalkps.org<\/a>\u00a0,\u00a0 you can stop by room 218E, or call through extension 13279 \/ 203-838-4481 You can find Mr. Milton\u2019s intern Ms. Lopez on Thursdays and Fridays in the Teen Talk room.<\/p>\n

Remember to call the 24-hour Helpline whenever you may need it! 203-661-1911.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Norwalk High\u2019s Response To the Mental Health Crisis Among Teens Hope Whitley\u00a0, Paw Print Reporter SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 According to the Surgeon General\u2019s report, \u201cDepressive and anxiety symptoms in youth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":738,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[55,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-55","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsincrisis.org\/sub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}