Papillion La Vista Schools in Omaha, Nebraska, has introduced a comprehensive mental health curriculum for middle school students. The initiative, named the Wayfinder program, aims to integrate daily lessons on emotional well-being into homeroom classes, equipping students with essential skills to care for themselves and each other.
The curriculum incorporates a variety of engaging activities, from creative hallway hopscotch projects to meaningful discussions about challenging emotions. Reece Mahan, a seventh grader at Liberty Middle School, shared insights about the program, stating, “Most of the time, we’re talking about our emotions and how we’ll be better for the day to come.”
Practical Lessons Enhance Emotional Skills
Educators like Lindsay Wilson emphasize the practical nature of the lessons. For example, a recent class focused on identifying sources of joy. “Today’s lesson was about sparking joy. What are things that bring each of us joy and how they’re different, and then how maybe we can use those things when we’re feeling down or need a pick-me-up or had a hard test,” Wilson explained.
Students have also been actively involved in promoting positive messages. Mahan’s class created posters aimed at encouraging their peers, with one of his contributions stating, “Everyone is enough and how everyone just showing up makes the school better.”
Addressing Rising Mental Health Concerns
The introduction of the Wayfinder program comes in response to a concerning rise in youth mental health issues. Stephanie Hoesing, the district’s mental health liaison, highlighted alarming statistics that have emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic. “When you look at some of the statistics around mental health since COVID, there has been an increase in depression and anxiety and also an increase in suicide rates amongst ten to fourteen year olds,” Hoesing noted.
After participating in the program for less than a year, students like Mahan have already noticed a shift in their school environment. “If anyone is ever in trouble and they need help, anyone in the school would be able to help them,” he said, reflecting the supportive community that the Wayfinder program aims to cultivate.
The Papillion La Vista Schools plan to extend the Wayfinder initiative to additional schools and grade levels, further underscoring their commitment to fostering mental health awareness among students. For those in crisis, support is available via the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which operates 24 hours a day.
