Benson Mental Health Support

Hundreds of students wandered through the wellness fair on FEB 27. There were many positives, including 11 Benson students signing up to volunteer with Oregon Youth Line!

Organizations that participated:

You can sign up to receive their newsletter here: https://www.namimultnomah.org/

In an effort to decrease the stigma around mental illness, NAMI Multnomah is returning March 20 for a B Flex optional assembly showing the film Ending the Silence. The Students for Mental Health Club will co-present with NAMI Multnomah.

Every few weeks our BHS Student Support Specialists (counselors, social workers, school psychologists, & therapists) include mental health awareness in this newsletter format.

• BHS archived mental health topics (newsletters) are here.
• Ways to be a trusted and safe adult + resources for youth: Supporting young minds | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)

Signs of Suicide (SOS) Training is happening next week for all juniors through their majors. Students will receive the curriculum from our Mental Health Team and will be reminded of the positive resources below via Trivory - found here: https://trivory.com/pps/youth-resources

Please reach out to our Benson Mental Health Team with any questions or concerns (contact information below)

We are going to begin highlighting glimpses from the Healing Story Alliance in upcoming newsletters. Their work might offer insight for those dealing with the pain and tragedy of turbulent current events in the personal, social, and global realms. Examples:

• Healing Treasures: Stories intended to precipitate conversation, and guide teaching and healing with participants.
• Stories We Live: Personal stories and methods for gathering and applying life experiences as healing references.
• Stories for Children in Crisis: Compiled by Laura Simms, includes stories, articles, and links, drawn from years of research and professional work with children.
• Stories for Peace: storytelling in pursuit of peace and understanding.
• Healing the Earth: featuring stories contributed by storytellers working in environmental settings or on educational projects with an environmental theme.

Please find a story pictured below as an example. Website.

The Beginning of the Story -

Once upon a time, there was a handful of little plastic pellets called Rustle. All Rustle longed for was to be useful. He dreamed of being a red umbrella or a yellow raincoat or a plastic toy…

Then, one day, he got a job.

He was taken to a big noisy factory and turned into….
a shiny, new, white plastic shopping bag,
along with millions and millions and millions of his friends.

He loved his new rustling sound [rustle rustle] but all Rustle longed for was to be useful.

Rustle and his friends got loaded into a truck and they drove for hours and hours and hours [Sound effect] to a giant supermarket.

The next day, the moment Rustle had been waiting for all his life arrived. At last, he would be useful!

He was on the metal hooks by the checkout and he was being filled up with shopping for a family!

They loaded him up with oranges, sausages, sushi, lollies, lemonade, salami, balloons, strawberries in plastic, chocolate and noodle cups…

When the family got home, they unloaded the shopping, then they folded Rustle and his friends up and put them away.

The Rest of the Story here: https://healingstoryalliance.org/shelley-the-sea-turtle-meets-rustle-the-plastic-bag-2/

March: Women's History Month, National MS Education and Awareness Month, Intellectual and Developmental Disability Awareness Month, Greek-American Heritage Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Zero Discrimination Day (MAR 1), Self-Injury Awareness Month; International Women’s Day (MAR 8), International Day to Combat Islamophobia (MAR 15), International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (MAR 21), Neurodiversity Celebration Week (MAR 18-24), International Transgender Day of Visibility (MAR 31)

Sources, Diversity Resources - PPS Resource on heritage/history months

March 1st for some is just a regular day, a start to a new month, maybe a start to a new beginning, a spring renewal. For others, it is a day to bring awareness, a day where individuals do not feel so alone and invisible, a day where anyone who has ever felt like they need to suffer in silence can finally have a voice to say, “this is what self-harm looks like and this is why I self-harm, but today I chose to not suffer alone.”

March 1st kicks off self-harm awareness month, a time where anyone who knows a loved one, friend, or even stranger who engages or has engaged in self-harm will hopefully educate themselves, learn how to be empathetic, a warm safe place, and an advocate for those who feel like they cannot advocate for themselves.

Source + more information: https://connectionswellnessgroup.com/blog/march-is-self-harm-awareness-month/

• Basics of Self-Harm: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/self-harm
• Approaches on Interrupting Self-Harm: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/two-takes-on-depression/202203/march-is-self-injury-awareness-month
• Living with Self-Harm Scars: https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/empowering-young-adults/living-with-self-harm-scars/?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nh_self-harm_dtc_both_mar-2026

As is always the case, it is OK to not be OK: here are resources that can help.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, free and confidential support - call or text

• Local Resources: Multnomah County Crisis Line - 503-988-4888 including mobile outreach (interpretation available; open 24/7); Lines for Life General Line: Call 800-273-8255; Oregon Youth Line: Text Teen to Teen 839863 - Texting trained teen mental health responders

Benson Wellness Resources - Benson Wellness Center with mental health supports, BHS Counseling Center with school counselors (by alphabetical order)

PPS Youth Resources in Trivory

FREE Naloxone for overdose prevention - Opioid Certification | END OVERDOSE

PPS Prevention Strategies; The New Drug Talk Oregon | The New Drug Talk

PPS Healthy Choices Bulletin - curated list of substance use resources and also highlights student and family accessible services and activities.

• FEB edition, Substance Abuse Prevention Resources; link to archived Healthy Choices Bulletins. Substance Use/Community Resources

Image above HERE

Want to learn more about: Vocational Rehabilitation, Portland Community College, Disability Rights Oregon, Autism Society, Albertina Kerr, PPS Community Transition Program, and so much more!

• Here is a document for all organizations with links - GREAT resource!
• Local organizations: Local Disability Organizations and Resources
• You can also contact our Youth Transition Specialist: Veronica Bastillos, Youth Transition Program (YTP), Transition Specialist - Benson & Meek High School, 971-895-1707; vebustillos@pps.net

Source: Transformative Writing Group, A Flex in 205