MEA members across Michigan are finding new and innovative ways to address the pressing mental health needs of Michigan’s public school educators and their students. Two MEA members — one in West Bloomfield and another in the Upper Peninsula — are taking bold action to help address mental health concerns in the classroom and beyond.

The efforts of Jennifer Sepetys, a West Bloomfield High School teacher, and Becky Halamka, a Negaunee Public Schools counselor, are serving as templates for addressing mental health concerns in classrooms across Michigan.

In 2021, Sepetys created a 20-week Positive Psychology class after witnessing continued student mental health concerns in her classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Halamka last fall launched Superior Educator Wellness Services, a free counseling service tailored to the unique needs of educators and funded by a state grant.

Sepetys’ Positive Psychology class teaches students the behaviors and habits of body and mind that can positively impact physical and mental health. In the one-on-one safe space she created, many students have felt comfortable sharing their serious struggles.

“I was reaching out to students and referring people to the counselor, and this became such a huge part of my teaching job beyond the curriculum,” Sepetys said. “I realized it was something that was missing for kids, and they needed more than one person could do.”

The class begins with a unit on stress and anxiety to help students identify personal triggers, then moves on to its purpose, Sepetys said: “I say, ‘All right, we’re going to work on feeling better. Now that we all know we’re dealing with so much, let’s figure out what we need to do. How can we help ourselves and each other?’”

Sepetys’ class comes at a time when, as of 2023, 40% of students nationwide report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Rates of youth suicide peaked in 2018 and again in 2021 with Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ students at greatest risk. Her class also coincides with Michigan’s dismal counselor-to-student ratio of 598:1 as of 2023 — a far cry from the recommended level of 250 students per counselor.

Jordan Bailey, a 2024 West Bloomfield High School graduate, found the course’s mindfulness unit beneficial in coping with her anxiety in college.

“I feel that schools in general could do a better job of looking after their students and connecting with them,” Bailey said. “When teachers show they truly care about me, even outside of the classroom, that impacts me in a positive way. When I feel like I have a community, that helps my mental health.”

In Negaunee, Halamka established Superior Educator Wellness Services to provide free mental health and wellness support to educators. The program aims to help educators manage burnout and personal stress. Halamka herself had navigated the extended military training of her husband, the loss of a family member, and the return to work after two six-week maternity leaves during her career — just a sample of what educators experience in their personal lives while still needing to go to school and be resilient for students.

“Educators have very high expectations of themselves and can have a difficult time if they don’t meet their own expectations,” Halamka said. “I can help them set realistic goals and expectations and give themselves grace if they don’t meet them.”

Taylor Maki, a special education teacher in Negaunee, said educators who have resources and support to address their mental health challenges can create a healthier work-life balance, which in turn enhances their ability to support students effectively.

“This is going to benefit students because teachers and other educational staff will be able to receive services to help their mental health,” Maki said. “Staff improving their mental health can help students regulate and manage their mental health.”

As educators find solace and support through Superior Educator Wellness Services, the hope is Halamka’s dedication will inspire similar initiatives in other districts, ensuring that those who nurture young minds are themselves nurtured and cared for.

Media interested in interviews with the MEA members can call (517) 337-5508.