Student creates mental health programs for teens at Westfield Library

(January 16, 2025) Concerned about the mental health of her peers, Union County Vocational-Technical High School junior Bella Fajardo has collaborated with the Westfield Memorial Library to bring three mental health presentations specifically for teens to the library. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street.

Bella, who is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award, approached the library last summer looking for an organizational partner who would help bring her programming ideas to fruition. She recruited the presenters and then held Zoom meetings with them to develop the scope of the presentations.

"I wanted to do this project because I saw a need for more mental health resources and information for teens,” Bella said. “We are all under constant stress and learning how to manage it, as well as understanding the impact of mental health on our daily lives. I think we can all benefit from learning how to show ourselves empathy and grace."

Youth Services librarian Dana Rosen-Perez worked with Bella on coordinating these programs. She said, “Bella has been a volunteer in the Youth Services department since 2021, and we welcome the opportunity to support her efforts working toward her Girl Scout Gold Award. In focusing on mental health, and finding organizations to collaborate with, Bella is also helping the library serve a community information need.”

“Ending the Silence: A Mental Health Presentation for Teens” will be presented on both Saturday, January 25 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Presented by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), the nation’s largest grass roots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, the program features the journey and recovery of a young adult living with mental illness.

Marli Gelfand, M.A., L.P.C., A.C.S., a practicing psychotherapist, will present the next program “Stress Management Solutions: Strengthening Mind Wellness for Teens” on Thursday, February 6 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Stress is an inevitable part of life, and managing it is an essential part of wellness. This program will detail stress management techniques for long- and short-term stress, self-care strategies and coping skills that keep stress from becoming overwhelming.

Gelfand is the Associate Vice President of the Behavioral Health Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health – Monmouth Medical Center. She holds Master’s Degrees in Counseling Psychology and in Art Psychotherapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She has been a practicing psychotherapist for over 20 years focusing on work with pediatrics through young adults specializing in Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Eating Disorders, and LGBTQ+ related concerns.

Gelfand is also an active member and chairs several local county and state boards and is a requested speaker/trainer within the public and private sector on topics relating to Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, Trauma, Grief, Self-Care and Wellness for communities and the workforce, Childhood Obesity Prevention and the ongoing Psychological Effects.

The first program in the series was “Stress and Time Management: The Facts, Effects and How to Cope” also by Gelfand. She covered such issues as utilizing time management techniques to handle school, extracurriculars, college and college applications, and constant changes in the lives of teens and young people.

These events are open to all, but registration is required.

Register for January 25 Ending the Silence A Mental Health Program for Teens.

Register for February 6 Stress Management Solutions: Strengthening Mind Wellness

Visit the library’s website at https://wmlnj.org/ to register for these programs, to sign up for a library card, or to learn more about the library’s resources. Library hours are Monday - Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.