Neuqua Valley High School Implements New Mental Health Program

October 8, 2019

Contact: Bill Casey - william_casey@ipsd.org

Naperville, IL -- On October 2, 2019, Neuqua Valley High School officially kicked off a new program called Health.Moves.Minds. through the Physical Education and Health classes. The purpose of the program is to provide assistance for the students to strengthen social and emotional health. Students will learn about Health.Moves.Minds with presentations as well as activities that demonstrate how to build skills on a social and emotional level throughout October.

"Over the years I have watched students battle with all kinds of issues that involved social behavior and emotional struggles that impacted their mental health. Mental health is just as important as physical health. When teenagers are struggling, they need a group to turn to so they can reach a successful outcome when managing their emotions," Bill Casey, PE Department Chair at Neuqua Valley, explained.

"Our PE department has partnered with SHAPE America for 15 years as it relates to physical health. After researching their latest programs developed to involve the emotional and mental health, I found Health.Moves.Minds which provides a learning platform and resources that can help students who need extra guidance on a social or emotional level. We also realized that parents need support as well when their kids are experiencing struggles. Neuqua Valley now offers a parent support group with assistance from National Alliance on Mental Illness DuPage County (NAMI DuPage). Parents can come together to discuss the social and emotional health of their kids and find resources if needed that go beyond the group discussion."

Parent meetings are scheduled on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Neuqua Valley in Large Forum Room at the Main building to learn more about the new parent support group, Health.Moves.Minds, and how this approach can improve our students well-being in today's world. Two sessions are available at 12 pm and 7 pm. If you can attend, please complete the form via this link: https://forms.gle/e28tKwppQ54uS6og9 so we can accommodate all guests for seating.

Feel free to email any questions to william_casey@ipsd.org.

About SHAPE America:

SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators is the nation’s largest nonprofit membership organization of health and physical education professionals. Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education, and the National Standards for K-12 Physical Education serve as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country. SHAPE America provides programs, resources and advocacy to support health and physical educators at every level, from preschool to university graduate programs. For more information, visit www.shapeamerica.org.

About NAMI DuPage:

NAMI DuPage was founded by a group of parents in 1985 as an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nationwide mental health advocacy organization, begun in 1979, dedicated to improving the quality of lives of people affected by mental illnesses. These parents were looking for services for their children who had been diagnosed with mental illnesses. By joining forces, they thought they could advocate for improved services. NAMI DuPage has grown from this small handful of people to an organization of over 1,000 members and has become one of the largest and most innovative of 1200 affiliates nationwide. NAMI has been a catalyst for change and reform in DuPage County. To learn more, visit namidupage.org.