Student Services
MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY RESOURCES
Please see below for a list of Family, Community, and Mental Health Resources that we recommend for our students and families at Saint Joseph High School. These agencies offer helpful resources in a variety of ways for any personal difficulties, social/emotional struggles, or familial issues that your students may encounter. Please contact the school counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
24 HOUR HOTLINES
The Mercy Health Behavioral Health
Are you or a loved one in crisis? Do you need someone to talk to? Mercy Health provides clinical staff who are trained to conduct emergency mental health assessments to determine the most appropriate level of care. The Mercy Health behavioral health crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (833) 347-5544.
National Hopeline Network (Crisis or Suicidal Thoughts)
1-800-784-2433
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) 1-877-356-5355
Center for Victims of Violent Crime
Crisis Hotline: (412) 392-8582
Crisis Text Line: Text “PA” to 741-741
General Phone: (412) 482-3240
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Support & Referral Helpline 1-855-284-2494; for TTY, dial 724-631-5600
SUICIDE 24 HOUR HOTLINES AND INFORMATION
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. 1-800-273-8255.
Resolve Crisis Clinic
UPMC resolve is a 24-hour, 365-day crisis service that’s free to all Allegheny County residents. Everyone experiences moments of crisis in life. You might be struggling with depression or substance abuse. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by problems at work, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with a loved one. Whether your problem is large or small, talking with someone can help. Most of all, don’t wait for a problem to get out of control. Just call resolve Crisis Services for help at 1-888-796-8226.
Westmoreland Community Action Crisis Hotline
The Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 to provide assistance for individuals in crisis or for individuals seeking assistance for another person in crisis. Any individuals with concerns for self or others may utilize the Hotline as a starting point for crisis support. Direct referrals for the Mobile Crisis Unit (face-to-face crisis intervention) are made through the Crisis Hotline. The only requirement is the person in a behavioral health crisis must be located in Westmoreland County. 1-800-836-6010.
STAR Center
STAR-Center's mission is to provide state-of-the-art youth suicide prevention through the specialized and evidence based assessment and treatment of children and adolescents suffering from depression and or anxiety. (412) 246-5619
FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES
Pennsylvania 211: If you need to connect with resources in your community, but don’t know where to look, PA 211 is a great place to start. From help with a utilities bill, to housing assistance, after-school programs for kids, and more, you can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free.
Wesley Family Services - Tarentum 4th Ave
Wesley Family Services is a non-profit organization that is committed to providing high quality behavioral healthcare services and support programs to children, adults, and families over the course of their lifespan so that they are empowered to reach their full potential. With more than 40 programs in behavioral healthcare and support programs, our staff works closely with those we serve and tailors our approach to meet the unique needs of every individual. As an organization, Wesley Family Services provides behavioral healthcare services and support programs to individuals in their homes, communities, and schools, whatever best meets the needs of those we serve. (412) 342-2270
MENTAL HEALTH
The Caring Place
The Highmark Caring Place, a center for grieving children, adolescents and their families, is a safe place where grieving children and families can come together and be with others who understand what they’re going through. (888) 224-4673
An essential community resource, the Caring Place offers services at no charge to grieving families from throughout the community.
Turtle Creek Valley
TCV Children and Family Services provides a full continuum of behavioral health care for children, adolescents and their families. Services include Prevention and Treatment Services in the office and in participating schools. (412) 351-0222
Allegheny County Resources for Schools: Educational resources for school districts. (Action Research/Data-Sharing; School-based Liaisons; School Attendance/Truancy; Education-related Questions)
Allegheny County Resources for Families: Educational resources for families. (Child Care and Early Learning; Homelessness and School Stability; FosterCare and School Stability; Special Education; Truancy/School Attendance; Education-related Questions)
Allegheny County Services for Children, Youth and Young Adults: Choose from a wide variety of options to have your child's mental health evaluated and/or treated. Where you start is often a matter of personal preference, insurance coverage, existing relationships you may have with a family doctor or other professional, or the severity of your child's symptoms. Lack of private insurance coverage will not be a barrier to having your child receive treatment for a severe emotional disturbance.
COPING SKILLS
Student Assistance Program (SAP) Coping with Stress-CDC: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Helping Teenagers with Stress:
Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress every day and can benefit from learning stress management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult, or painful and they do not have the resources to cope. Find out more about some sources of stress for teens and how to help them deal with it on the website.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Coping with Hard Times Fact Sheet This resource helps high school students and young adults understand how economic difficulties may affect them and provides suggestions on how they can cope during these uncertain times.
TRUANCY
PDE Attendance In Pennsylvania, students who miss more than 10 percent of school days across the academic year are chronically absent. The pandemic has and will continue to pose challenges to students' regular attendance. While a great deal is known about effective strategies for addressing barriers to attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism, fluid transitions between full in-person, hybrid, and full-remote instructional delivery models will require strategic adaptation of evidence-based strategies. Attendance Works Across the country, more than 8 million students are missing so many days of school that they are academically at risk. Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences and suspensions, can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEAR NATRONA HEIGHTS
Evergreen Counseling Services, Inc. 415 Fourth Avenue Suite 7 Tarentum, PA, 15084 Allegheny County 724-845-9880 Brunetti, Stephen, LCSW
Penn Psycare, Inc. 2663 Leechburg Road Lower Burrell, PA, 15068 Westmoreland County 724-339-1500
Counseling for PROGRESS LLC 2772 Leechburg Road Suite 6 Lower Burrell, PA, 15068
Shirley, Heidi, LCSW 2207 Freeport Road Suite C Natrona Heights, PA 15065 Allegheny County 724-224-3031
Edwards Clinical Therapy Services, LLC 2322 Freeport Road Natrona Heights, PA 15065 Allegheny County 724-224-2500
