Mental health wasn’t a major priority when I was in high school. I certainly didn’t take it seriously, even as an anxious teenager. During my freshman year, I had an algebra test and a physics test on the same day. When I asked my teacher for extra help after school, she told me she knew I would come to her and that she wouldn’t be surprised if I showed up in hives on test day. (Luckily, the latter didn’t come true.) After tutoring, she suggested I visit my school counselor because I was so stressed. I stared at her and thought, ‘Why would I do that?’
That was the general mindset among most of my peers back then. While school counselors were available to help with any mental health concerns, they typically focused on developing academic and career goals for students and providing advice on how to achieve them.
Despite my initial hesitance, I ended up working (and hanging out) in the counseling dept. senior year.
But counselors’ roles have changed, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Malia Kau, a college and career counselor at Radford High School in Honolulu, shares her experience helping students emotionally and academically post-pandemic.
COVID’s lingering impact
When schools shut down in 2020 to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading, remote learning became the new normal for two years. Teachers and students did their best to adjust, but the transition from a traditional classroom to online learning wasn’t easy. Education was disrupted, and many kids fell behind in core subjects like math and reading.
The pandemic and lack of social connection also exacerbated the youth mental health crisis, with more students struggling with anxiety and depression. At Radford High, Kau noticed a growing number of teenagers dealing with challenges.
Counselor George Sumida (right) chatting with a student in the Counseling Center.
“More of our counselors are talking to students about coping with stress, anxiety, and depression,” says Kau. “We’ve had a lot of individual conferences with students and families to help get them the assistance they need.”
Mental health also has a direct impact on academic performance. Students dealing with anxiety and depression may find it more difficult to focus in class, feel less motivated to study or do homework, and be unable to remember information, which affects performance on exams and assignments.
“When a teacher or counselor sees slipping grades or attendance, we provide support and interventions,” says Kau. “They get back on track, and we see academics improve.”
Interventions include meeting with the student one-on-one, identifying the root cause of the issue, and developing an action plan. Reaching out early is important since students with good mental health can thrive in and out of the classroom. They’re often more productive and ready to learn, able to cope with stressors, and they have healthier sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle habits.
Reaching for the stars
More than 1,200 students are enrolled at Radford High, which means the school’s counseling center has a lot to manage. Nine staff members, including two behavioral specialists, split the responsibilities of providing support to students who need help with academic, behavioral, emotional, social, or psychological problems.
Radford High School's Counseling Center. Photo courtesy Malia Kau
Since the pandemic, the Hawaii Department of Education has also partnered with Hazel Health so that students can talk virtually with a licensed therapist while at school. The resources have made a difference.
“We’re slowly starting to get back to normal in the sense that students love interacting and doing things in person,” says Kau. “They’re excited to do the activities that they loved and what connected them to the school and each other.”
As students grow socially and emotionally, they’re also on a path to academic success. Kau is honored to be part of her students’ journeys, witnessing their progression year-to-year from young freshmen to graduating seniors.
“I love helping them discover their potential and reach their goals,” she says. “And I’m so proud of my students, whether they get their college acceptance letters, make the decision to enlist in the military, or land their first job. They overcome so many challenges along the way and develop such tenacity to reach their goals.”
Helping students succeed
Students across Hawaii are accomplishing great things, and our educators are largely responsible for their success. Read more about keiki and education below.
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HMSA is celebrating 20 years of awarding scholarships to outstanding high school students and schools statewide. We check in with some past recipients to see what they’re up to today and what they’ve accomplished.
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An aquaponics garden at Jefferson Elementary School is teaching keiki about growing herbs. Learn about the unique curriculum that’s also teaching students about the balance of life.
paging teenage doctors
The Academic Health Center isn’t your typical primary care office. It’s on the Waipahu High School campus, and helping students get hands-on experience in the health care industry.
