Although the mental health and social-emotional needs of students have increased in recent years, schools Lack of equipment to meet these needs.
Schools often do not have dedicated funding and staff for mental health, but they may offer some services to students, such as telehealth or referrals to outside specialists. Federal COVID relief funding, a funding source many schools have relied on to expand mental health services, expires later this year.
For some students, after-school programs filled the gap. According to research After-school programs benefit children's social, emotional, and behavioral health through activities designed to support social skills and peer relationships. Three students who are youth ambassadors for the non-profit Afterschool Alliance spoke with Education Week about how the programs they participate in benefit their mental, social and emotional well-being. The interviews, conducted separately by phone in February and March, have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Helping Students Cope with Grief
Isa Huarid, 15 years old
After School Program: Life Pieces to Masterpieces in Washington, DC
![Issa Ouarid, 15, enjoys the after-school program because it allows her to express her feelings through art.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/19c646a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/960x1440+0+0/resize/223x335!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2F01%2Fa677ab98435dbcaec241215d8653%2F051724-issa-ouarid-bs.jpg)
The after-school program I participate in is Life Pieces to Masterpieces. This year marks the 13th year. This is an arts-based program that educates black and brown boys throughout the 7th Ward in Washington, DC. [in the eastern part of the city] And I'm definitely going to give it a chance. Because growing up here, we don't get that many opportunities.
We draw individually, as a class, or the whole class works together to draw. I've done two drawings and will be making a third one soon. The paintings are often related to our community or what we are going through.
Let's take one of my drawings as an example. Last summer, I painted a painting called ‘The Brother’s Experience’. I'm from Ward 7 in DC, but I've had several opportunities to go abroad and that's something you don't typically see for a kid growing up in my neighborhood. The picture is of me flying. I am wearing a king's cloak and crown, and I am floating above the town with a globe in my hand. The story behind it is as follows: Where you come from doesn't determine where you can go in life. It has helped many of my brothers realize that even though they come from a neighborhood known for its struggles, they can still pull themselves together and do the positive things they want to do, and even explore the world like me.
We always make sure we are there for each other and that mental health is a top priority.
Isa Huarid
Life Pieces is like a second home to me. It always felt like family there. Especially with employees who have watched me grow. I remember a really difficult time after my grandmother died, when I was not yet five years old, because it was the first time I had lost someone so close to me. Life Pieces helped me go through the grieving process and use art to express my grief. They also knew that even if I felt this way, I would always have a home there and I would always be loved.
It is something that many students also experience, but it is not necessarily a loss. We always make sure we are there for each other and that mental health is a top priority.
Helping students build confidence
Ori-Ann Bigsama, 14 years old
After School Program: South Florida After School All Stars in Miami
![Aurie-Anne Vixama, 14, is an immigrant and said the after-school program helped her build community.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9c9572a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/960x1440+0+0/resize/223x335!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fd0%2F17%2Fd885ae714feaaf228d4709cf644f%2F051724-aurie-anne-vixama-bs.jpg)
i started [at] 6th grade after school all star. We attended online due to the pandemic. When we got back physically, it was very nice to see teachers getting help from everyone in the after-school environment, which was great for me. I began to see things within myself that I didn't know were there before. There were many skills that After School All-Stars helped me grow in. And I think, “This is something that could benefit me in the long run.” And I stayed that long and built great relationships that way.
Since I came here to America [from Haiti] When I was 7, they were the ones who accepted me for who I was. It was just a community that helped me feel more comfortable throughout my school life and help me get better grades.
Bullying was a very big challenge. I didn't speak the language. I had this hairstyle and, oh my gosh, the kids would make fun of me like it was a game. Bullying was a very big problem for me. And I used to fight with myself because I thought I wasn't good enough. For example, a student might bully me into doing my homework or something I personally wouldn't do, but I did it just out of fear. So fear and bullying were the challenges I faced.
After School All Stars showed me that I was more valuable than I thought.
Orian Bigsama
After School All Stars showed me that I was more valuable than I thought. They gave me the confidence I was looking for, built this foundation, and showed me that I could be myself and who I wanted to be.
Our program has a “No Judgment” section in case you need to talk to a teacher or professional about anything going on in your life or school, or anything you think is wrong with you. We always have small sessions with our teachers whenever we need help.
Connecting Mentors and Students
Julie Mirsil, 17
After School Program: Young Voices in Providence, RI
![Jully Myrthil, 17, uses her time after school to advocate for policies that prioritize youth mental health.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9db8d57/2147483647/strip/true/crop/960x1440+0+0/resize/223x335!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Faf%2F4728779f433da9dcdc061ea4543c%2F051724-jully-myrthil-bs.jpg)
I participate in various after-school programs. One is Young Voices. I am an activist and board member there. We are a youth organization leading the way in advocating for policies that impact youth in our communities. I am also a project leader for multilingual learners. I facilitated workshops for over 200 teachers and staff in Rhode Island school districts on elevating youth voices and prioritizing mental health in and out of the classroom. I am also a project leader for the ESSER fund. I was able to collect data on how funds were allocated across Rhode Island school districts, and we are still working on that project.
These projects are important to me. Because many of my colleagues don't feel they have the ability to speak confidently about issues that affect them. I believe it's best to use my voice to see the change I want to see in my community. Because if they won't do it, I have to do it. And I've met so many amazing people who have lifted up my voice and shown me that my voice can really make a difference.
I was able to get many mentors through the after-school program. Peter, Executive Director of Young Voices, is one of my mentors. I am going to be a first generation college student, and he helped me go through this entire college application process step by step. Applying to college itself is stressful. Having a variety of mentors has helped my well-being because I know I am not alone and can ask for help.
Learning more about mental health and how it negatively impacts people of color has given me the wisdom and knowledge I need to find holistic ways to address the issue.
Julie Mirsil
Mental health is a taboo topic for BIPOC. [Black, Indigenous, and other people of color] If we don't actually talk about our community, we can't address the underlying issues. I want to create spaces where people of color can feel vulnerable and safe to really talk about the issues and action steps for recovery. Learning more about mental health and how it negatively impacts people of color has given me the wisdom and knowledge I need to find holistic ways to address the issue.
I believe a common factor contributing to mental health issues is lack of communication. Because there is a lot of support out there, but people don't feel comfortable asking for help. It's so important to have these conversations to break down the stigma around asking for help so that we have a community and people know they're not alone. Because we are a community. We need each other. We really can't go through this world alone.