Over the years, mental health has become a greater concern especially among the younger generations. This is especially true for the U.S. youth whom, according to data from the Surgeon General’s Advisory back in 2021, experienced increases in mental health symptoms.
For instance, an observed 40% increase was seen among high school students who reported sadness or hopelessness from 2009 to 20191. From 2018-2021, emergency department visitation rates among American children and adolescents were 14 per 1,000 for various mental health disorders2 such as mood, anxiety, or other behavioral and emotional disorders. Unfortunately, a consequence of these mental health issues is an increase in suicide; the National Center for Health statistics estimates more than 6,600 deaths by suicide among those aged 10-24 year old in 20203. All of this data emphasizes the need for transformative youth programs which are impactful, practical, and uniquely address the needs of young people across various sectors.
I have worked together with other clinical psychologists in my field for various projects related to the youth. For example, BIDLISIW foundation utilizes a parent-child encounter program where children who conflict with the law or those who were sexually exploited online go through months of self-discovery and resiliency building.
Aftercare programs such as MAGONE for youth with substance abuse have also been done before to allow youth to transition back to a drug-free life. In my years of serving the youth as an educator and a therapist, I have seen how psychoeducation, practical skills building, and support group systems help troubled youth get back to a normal life. None of these programs, however, have utilized such a unique and innovative approach as the “Be Well School” program proposed by Nelson Camp.
Nelson Camp has a wide range of experience working with youth of all ages. He is a well-known speaker and has participated in many events both online and offline across several universities on topics related to mental health, supportive education and. I was first made aware of Mr. Camp and his work when a colleague had introduced me. His unique combination of experience, education and expertise have permitted him to create highly valuable resources to be used in a variety of youth settings.
He has over 20 years of experience educating and counseling students and has earned a master’s degree in education focusing on mental health, counseling psychology and wellness. He has also conducted various trainings for mental health first aid, has certified hundreds of adult mental health practitioners, and has advocated for the advantages drama therapy use as a preventative classroom resource to use to support emotional resiliency. He has authored various mental health workbooks and published several highly successful books. With years of experience combining counseling, education, public speaking, business, publishing and promoting healthy evaluation methods, Nelson Camp has created a transformative program that will benefit U.S. youth immensely in the form of the “Be Well School” program.
“Be Well School” has the primary aim of helping students be well enough emotionally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually to be able to succeed in their academic endeavors and also face the daily challenges that present themselves. It can be best described as a holistic and experiential approach to dealing with underlying mental health issues experienced by the youth by building on what he calls “emotional experiences”. By engaging in role play and drama therapy, the program aims to explore youth related issues such as substance abuse, bullying, sexuality among others. Through this discovery, it is hoped that appropriate emotional resilience is developed leading to behavioral change. It is a well-known fact that emotional change is one of the core aspects of therapeutic change4. This is especially true for the young individuals whose decision-making capacities are largely driven by emotions.
Moreover, the use of dramatherapy in youth programs has rarely been implemented especially those that use short stories and plays. Camp’s approach to healing should engage the youth in a way that goes beyond standard classroom instruction. The use of dramatherapy is also quite practical since it allows young people to transform abstract concepts of change into actual behavior they could use in day-to-day activities. Finally, Camp’s “Be Well School” program should impact the current practices in youth intervention because it opens an alternative model for change that uses creative expression instead of classroom discussions. Moreover, when youth’s mental health issues are first addressed in this manner, it is then possible to accurately measure their authentic academic abilities either through the standardized school evaluations or other means. Having a more accurate measure of authentic ability is of utmost importance since educators like me make important decisions based on youth’s ability to do well in school. With Camp’s 25 years of experience in the counseling and education field working with thousands of youths, the “Be Well School” program promises to fill gaps in the national mental health care for youth in the US.
In addition to needs-based educational resources, Camp also aims to offer certificate training to Americans who endeavor to work with youth who may be experiencing needs in mental health. This proposed multi-level training allows for a clear path of learning and will no doubt better equip the American work force that’s critically needed to address the needs in youth mental health that present themselves daily. This training would be appropriate for those from various frontline backgrounds such as educational assistants, social workers, correctional officers, counselors, and educators from all levels. Additionally, the program is designed to be accessible to all offering tailored training that’s adapted to the learning needs of the individuals seeking to become certified. This includes offering training to those in more remote areas outside urban centers who may have limited access to professional development opportunities or where professional mental health care isn’t readily available. It also promises further accessibility as compared to conventional postsecondary educational institutions that that may exclude those who do not have the financial means or academic background required for admission. Further, professional designations and licensing may require timelines of 4-8 years, whereas Camp’s project of Be Well School offers certification that can be achieved in days or weeks at the pace of the trainee. In keeping with his philanthropist character, Nelson Camp’s program seeks to reinvest a portion of all proceeds into scholarships that will be issued to underprivileged individuals seeking certification and to contribute to the mental well-being of youth.
In sum, the program shows great promise in addressing the current critical needs presented in youth mental health across all of the United States of America. The project’s ambitious primary objectives of reaching 1 million youth by 2030, reducing stigma associated with seeking mental health support and training 100,000 Americans by 2030 would have a profound impact on supporting youth mental health across the country. Be Well School offers practical and immediate solutions to support an entire generation of youth afflicted by unprecedented needs in mental health through innovative methodologies that promise to make a nationwide impact.
References
- U.S. Surgeon’s General Advisory (2021). Protecting youth mental health. Retrieved from: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf
- National health statistics report (2023). Emergency Department Visits Related to Mental Health Disorders Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2018–2021. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr191.pdf
- Curtin, S. C., Hedegaard, H., Ahmad, F. B. (2021). Provisional numbers and rates of suicide by month and demographic characteristics: United States, 2020. Vital Statistics Rapid Release; no 16. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
- Ehrenreich JT, Fairholme CP, Buzzella BA, Ellard KK, Barlow DH. The Role of Emotion in Psychological Therapy. Clin Psychol (New York). 2007 Dec;14(4):422-428. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2850.2007.00102.x. PMID: 18843381; PMCID: PMC2562704.
Marc Clint A. Maceda, MA, RPm, Rpsy, CMHT, CPST
Marc Clint A. Maceda, MA, RPm, Rpsy, CMHT, CPST is the author of this piece.
