Local high schoolers receive self care backpacks thanks to local effort

<<kq2's madeline mcclain reporting:if you are a parent of a teen in st.

Joseph -- you may have seen this backpack.put together by a group of organizations, individuals, and advocates wanting to give teens the tools and resources they need for self-care.jean west, st.

Joseph school district: people are feeling more and more alienated and not knowing where to turn to and we thought this would be a good way to reach out to all of our high school students and say, 'hey, we care.

You are not alone.

There are things you can do even if you are shut up in your house.

There are things that you can do to stay well and to stay healthy."jean west is a counselor and trauma expert with the st.

Joseph school district.jean west, st.

Joseph school district: i think there is an increased need for support within our students at this time.she says 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone.the worldwide coronavirus pandemic pushed us into a virtual world and eroded our physical one.and lots of people want to help but it's difficult to know where to start.misty snider, st.

Joseph library & united way leadership: "we can all feel pretty helpless.

It's hard to sit back and watch everything happening and going what can we do?"misty snider was part of this year's united way leadership class.even before the pandemic -- her group knew they wanted a project that focused on kids.

Misty snider, st.

Joseph library & united way leadership: we heard a presentation from jean west about adverse childhood experiences.also, referred to as aces -- adverse childhood experiences can be abuse, neglect, homelessness jean west, st.

Joseph school district: "what's important to know about trauma it is the perception of the individual that is going through an overwhelming experience that they do not have the capability of meeting at that time."if you don't know how to cope with that stress -- it can become toxic.misty snider, st.

Joseph library & united way leadership: "it really does not discriminate and you can't tell by looking at a kid necessarily that they've experienced any kind of childhood trauma.it can affect teens now -- through adulthood and generations down the line.

From dropping out of school, to depression, job challenges, substance abuse, and chronic illness.the potential for traumatic events and stress amplified by the pandemic.

Stephanie malita, st.

Joseph health dept: "covid-19 has affected all of us and i think a lot of times people think oh kids will bounce back but they need the tools to do that.the st.

Joseph health department used grant money to fund the self-care backpacks.stephanie malita, st.

Joseph health dept: some skills and tools that they can develop that will help them overcome adversity deal with stress and cope with uncertain times."in each backpack is a journal, a frisbee, activities, and exercises that correspond to a printed infographic about self-care.sarah scott, social worker & united way leadership: healthy relationships, mental health, sleep nutrition, exercise, mindfulness and meditation.

Sarah scott another member of the united way leadership team focused on mindfulness and meditation.sarah scott, social worker & united way leadership: it just takes one minute and you already have all the skills you need and that's just already in you and a lot of people can use that and nobody else would even have to know."time, research, and love went into the four thousand backpacks high schoolers took home for the holidays.and these four women say if even one teen was helped by this project.it will have been worth it.jean west, st.

Joseph school district: "we try to get across to them is that yes it may feel very difficult right now but there are supports in place if you are experiencing problems and please reach out to those supports because we are here for you."reporting, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

The group hopes to expand the project.