HEALTH & WELLNESS

Attending high school today can be a stressful, anxiety driven experience. UHS understands that students need to have ‘peace-of-mind’ so they can focus on their academics and the responsibilities associated with high school. That is why UHS employs social-emotional counselors just to assist students who may need a little extra help. The resources on this page are all designed to assist students with the social-emotional aspects of their lives although students and parents are always free to call Mrs. Bird (278-0449) or Mrs. Fernandez (278-1115) with any questions.

Our counselors are available to all students and can be accessed in multiple ways:

  • Students and or parents may request to meet with their counselor by either walk-in or by appointment, to discuss any personal, social, emotional and behavioral issues that the individual is experiencing.
  • Teachers may refer students when they identify the student’s learning is being impacted by academic, personal, social, emotional or behavioral issues.
  • A Student Support Team (SST) may recommend that a student receive short-term counseling or frequent check-in as part of the student's plan of action.
  • Counselor may initiate meetings with students based on feedback received from other students, parents, teachers, or school administrators, or during particular times of the academic year (i.e., grading periods).

When needed, Mrs. Bird or Mrs. Fernandez may refer students and their families to private professionals in the community for psycho-educational testing and assessment, psychological or psychiatric evaluation, and long-term counseling. The following are some of the community resources available to UHS students and parents.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Comprehensive Youth Services, Inc.

4545 N. West Ave, Fresno, CA 93705

Some services provided for a fee. Services include individual and family counseling for at-risk and abused or neglected children and their families also, anger management classes for adults and adolescents. CYS offers student assistance program with on-campus crisis counseling for children and youth at numerous Fresno Unified School District and Fresno County schools and Neighborhood Resource Centers. Rural programs include: Keep Kids Drug Free, One-to-One Mentoring programs and the STOP program.

Call (559) 229-3561

Fresno County Mental Health

3133 N. Millbrook Ave, Fresno, CA 93703

Provide services to those 0 - 18 years of age, and infant mental health for voluntary or court-ordered 0-3 year olds. Services includes mental health assessments and evaluations, case management, transitional services, medication services, collateral interventions, individual and family therapy, family advocacy, community based services as needed, substance abuse prevention and interventions, parenting groups English and Spanish, groups for pre-adolescents and adolescents girls, Boys Coping Skills group, trauma focused mental health treatment, attachment-based family and child therapy.

Call (559) 453-8918

Kingsview Mental Health

7170 N. Financial Drive, Suite 110 Fresno, CA 93720

With a strong tradition of commitment, our focus is on serving rural communities where other health resources are often limited. Treating people with care and compassion is the cornerstone of our philosophy – valuing each person’s worth, dignity and wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

Call (559) 256-0100

Al-Anon & Alateen

922 N Van Ness Ave, Fresno, CA 93728

Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups; Al-Anon meetings are for anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. If there’s no Alateen meeting available to you, you are always welcome to attend an Al-Anon meeting.

Call (559) 444-0224

Sullivan Center for Children

3443 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93711

Our staff is highly knowledgeable about childhood development, parenting, and problems that arise during childhood. We are a community based organization that has been serving families in the Central Valley for over 20 years. We are here to provide expert advice and help to parents and families throughout a child's developmental years.

Call (559) 271-1186

The Fresno Family Counseling Center

5151 N. Palm Ave Suite 200, Fresno, CA 93704

Provides low-cost counseling services. Services are provided by advanced graduate students enrolled in the Marriage & Family Therapy Program at Fresno State and post-graduate MFT interns who work under the supervision of Fresno State Faculty who are licensed professionals.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call (559) 229-3085

STRESS, SLEEP AND BALANCE

How You Can Practice Self-Care

  • Identify what activities help you feel your best. Self-care is individual. As Duffy said, “Self-care for one person will mean something completely different for someone else. One person may need more alone time, for example, while another may nurture herself by spending more time out with friends.”
  • Put it on your calendar — in ink! Take a close look at your calendar and carve out one or two hours for self-care and stick to it, Boivin said. This may take extra prep, but it’s worth it.
  • Sneak in self-care where you can. If you don’t have huge chunks of time, you can still fit in little moments of relaxation. Don’t wait to add self-care to your life until your schedule frees up. (You might be waiting a while to forever.) Even if you take just five minutes to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, it can help your stress level. Don’t hesitate to get creative either.
  • Take care of yourself physically. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and exercising. When you physically take care of yourself, you will reap the benefits emotionally, psychologically, health-wise, and in your relationships.
  • Know when to say no. Your health and well-being come first.
  • Check in with yourself regularly. Ask yourself the following critical questions: “Are you working too much? Do you feel tapped out? What do you need to take away, and what would you like to add?”
  • Surround yourself with great people. Make sure that the people in your life are upbeat, positive and know how to enjoy life.
  • Consider the quality of self-care. Go for quality, especially when the quantity is lacking. For instance, rather than getting sucked into channel surfing for hours, only watche the shows you've recorded.
  • Remember that self-care is non-negotiable. In order to live a healthy and rewarding life, self-care is a necessity. With that attitude, it becomes very natural and easy to do.

(Reference: How Clinicians Practice Self-Care & 9 Tips for Readers)

High School Students and Sleep

Sleep allows one to be alert, insightful, and sharp. Sleep allows students to properly solve problems. When students do not get the optimal 8 to 10 hours of sleep that they need, they lose their ability to succeed academically. Students have trouble retaining information, coping with stress, and staying focused. “These effects can have a serious impact on test scores and on the grades students receive on class projects and papers.

 

What can parents do?

  • Have a lights-out policy
  • Take away computers, video games, cell phones, etc.
  • Help your child establish a regular sleep & wake cycle
  • Have students keep a regular study cycle
  • No caffeine 3 to 5 hours before sleep

Sleep and Your Mental Health