Dec 1, 2022 3 min read

Mental health is a huge issue across the educational spectrum and there is a room at Bethel Park High School that was designed to help students facing various issues and challenges.

It’s called the T.E.A.M.S. (Therapeutic, Emotional, Avoidance, Monitoring and Support) room and Lisa Cusick, T.E.A.M.S. coordinator, said it’s the brainchild of Bethel Park High School Principal Joseph Villani.

“Mental health is a huge issue across this entire nation,” Cusick explained. “He was thinking….what happens when we have a student that has a need, where do they go, what do we do with them.”

The room is seen as a place where students can go to regroup and rejoin, de-escalate, distract and engage. It’s a place where coping skills are taught. Those who feel bullied or isolated can feel safe. Tele-health workshops are offered as are workshops on student-driven topics on managing stressors. 

Students can go there to help deal with social anxiety, something that has increased quite a bit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as depression, panic attacks. loss of a family member or just a challenging situation that arises on a certain day.

“Kids can self refer to come in her or a staff member can refer them,” Cusick said. “It’s a simple as going up to the teacher and saying, ‘Can I go to T.E.A.M.S.’ They don’t have to give a reason.”

Students are connected to services throughout the building and lines of communication are opened between teachers, students, parents, administrators, counselors and social workers.

This is the flagship year for T.E.A.M.S. The room has a specific design that  exudes a calming atmosphere, such as a waterfall, or relaxing videos. There’s also a jigsaw puzzle on a table on which students can work, others come in and just draw. Its development was supported by grants from the Bethel Park Community Foundation and the Bethel Park Education Foundation.

“We keep saying we’re evolving,” Cusick said. “We’re collecting data, such as how many kids are using it, for what purpose. We just keep refining it and making it better as we go.”

Cusick said about 200 kids have been utilizing the room each month. 

“We do have a lot that come in for lunches, which is one of my pride and joys,” Cusick said. “We have a lot of kids that may have sat in isolation in the cafeteria. They’ve come in here and didn’t realize that organically they’ve formed their own group.”

  

Joining Cusick in the T.E.A.M.S. room are Jim Yackuboskey and Melissa Polosky.