OA Leads the Way in Teen Mental Health Education

OA is one of only six high schools or youth-serving organizations in Indiana offering a Teen Mental Health First Aid program.

(Oldenburg, Ind.) - Oldenburg Academy has recently been recognized as one of only six high schools or youth-serving organizations in Indiana offering a Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) program. This important program equips students with the skills to support their peers through mental health challenges. OA’s early adoption of the program is indicative of the school’s commitment to cultivating mental health awareness and to developing advocacy among its teenage students.

Oldenburg Academy started the tMHFA program with the Class of 2025 and has expanded the training to include students in every grade. Currently, 60 percent of OA students have completed the program, and more students are scheduled for certification in the spring semester.

OA Senior Elana Hollingsworth, who earned her certificate two years ago, believes the program is vital to her school: “Participating in this program has provided me with a deeper understanding of the mental health challenges many of us face but don’t often discuss. I now feel more equipped to offer support to my peers who may be struggling, and I believe it has fostered a more compassionate and open environment at our school. It's empowering to know that I can make a positive difference in someone’s life by recognizing the signs and encouraging them to seek help.”

tMHFA provides students with essential tools, including the tMHFA Action Plan: Look, Ask, Listen, Help, and Your Friend. The course consists of six 45-minute sessions and teaches students to recognize signs of mental health challenges and offer support to their peers, including outlining ways of encouraging peers to seek help from trusted adults.

Program graduates earn a certificate valid for three years and comprehensive manuals filled with helpful resources and practical advice. As part of the program's implementation, select OA faculty and staff have also been certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

School Nurse Becky Niese, who facilitates the program, knows the importance of educating our youth: “As an Adult MHFA instructor, I instantly knew I wanted to bring the teen version to our students at OA. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity of providing our teens with the knowledge and tools to help a friend in need or even with their own mental wellbeing challenges. Not only as the school nurse but also as a parent of teenagers, my goal is to empower our students and let them know that they can #BeTheDifference!”.

Mental health challenges are a significant concern among adolescents:

• ● One in five U.S. teens experiences a mental health challenge by age 18.
• ● Over half (54%) of teens with mental health challenges do not seek help.
• ● Young people are more likely to seek help when encouraged by a trusted friend or family member.

Oldenburg Academy Principal Angie Parmer hopes the program both de-stigmatizes mental health issues and encourages the next generation to be more compassionate and understanding.