Door County STRIDE has presented the importance of students’ mental health to schools in the area, like Southern Door. STRIDE provides counselors that are available for students to talk with, whether it concerns the stresses of school or processing home situations. 
At Southern Door School, implementations have been made for students to get involved. Currently, one counselor is available for kids to meet with during the school week.  When meeting with representatives Melissa Andrews and her co-worker, Dakota Londo, they talked about how students are encouraged to make use of STRIDE resources. Asking, “how would someone know if seeing a counselor is the right move for them?” they responded that it could be used in different ways for each student, and there are benefits that you will not know till you reach out. 
Melissa emphasized that one of STRIDE’s goals is to diminish the stigma surrounding mental health.

Providing a safe, school-located outlet for talking is their first step in the school systems of Door County. 
Want to know how you can make a difference? Talk to your kids about the STRIDE program and consider getting them involved with counseling resources at their school. 

Full interview with Melissa Andrews and Dakota Londo: