Monsignor Haddad Faculty Attend Professional Development With Adolescent Anxiety Expert Dr. Nadja Reilly

All Monsignor Haddad Middle School faculty and staff recently participated in a professional development workshop devoted to adolescent anxiety and depression. Lead by Dr. Nadja Reilly, the presentation and discussion focused on understanding the need to address student mental health from prevention and intervention perspective:
· Understanding anxiety from a developmental perspective
· Learning how to recognize symptoms
· Learning strategies to support students in the classroom
· Suggestions for working with parents and making referrals.

Dr. Reilly is a clinical psychologist with over 19 years of experience specializing in children, adolescents, and families. She completed her graduate training at the University of Miami, Florida, and her clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Reilly is the Associate Director of the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development at William James College. At the Freedman Center, Dr. Reilly focuses on prevention, school and community mental health work, consultation, curriculum and program development, and education. She is also the author of the book Anxiety and Depression in the Classroom: A Teacher's Guide to Fostering Self-Regulation in Young Students.

"She did a wonderful job reminding us, as well as educating us to the strains and stresses that middle school students face, " shared MHMS Principal, Jay MacDonald. "She also did a great job delineating the differences between clinical and long term issues and those situations that are age relevant and temporary. Her presentation also reminded us to be sensitive the various needs students have and the various challenges they face and the impact those needs and challenges have on their academic performance."

Reilly also highlighted how strong student/teacher relationships foster an environment where students feel comfortable expressing their emotions and supports them as they learn to manage their anxiety by teaching vocabulary to help identify feelings of being overwhelmed or other negative thoughts. "(Reilly) also talked about how we as teachers can help the class as a whole with anxiety in general ways by modeling deep breathing and grounding exercises, or even yoga poses, and by being active listeners, not always trying to solve a problem for them but to help them identify what is causing them trouble and helping them work through it, " said math teacher Mary Corcoran. "This is good advice for parents as well. The presentation will definitely spark some good discussions going forward to help us continue our mission to be there for the whole student!"

Monsignor Haddad Middle School in Needham offers a well-rounded education for young men and women in 6^th through 8^th grade from 17 communities. Steeped in the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition, at Monsignor Haddad Middle School scholarship is valued highly, faith is lived concretely, and the moral life is honored. For more information, visit www.saintjoes.com/middle-school or follow MHMS on Twitter @MHMSGators.