The beginning of the new school year can be a stressful time for students. Luckily, Vestavia has an excellent counseling department with plenty of resources. There are also several resources throughout the greater Birmingham area.
Obviously you have the school counselors, whose offices are almost always open. If you do not feel comfortable walking in, you can also email your counselor. All of their emails are listed on the counseling website, which you can access through the school website. They can help if you are feeling overwhelmed, need strategies to cope with your mental health, want help with college applications, or if you just need someone to talk to.
Alabama also has several crisis hotlines you can call. 988 is the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It is available if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or planning on commiting suicide. Someone is always on the line to respond to texts and phone calls. In addition, the Crisis Center of Central Alabama also has a hotline for anyone struggling with mental health, including a line specifically for teens. The main line is (205) 323-7777, and the teen line is (205) 328-5465.
If you are struggling with academics or homework management, Vestavia has some excellent tutors who meet with students during lunch. National Honors Society students also offer afterschool homework help. Both of these options cover all subjects. If you want to sign up for tutoring, you can speak to the school counselors or email them. Also, the homework help is open to anyone at any time.
The Amelia Center is a program run by Children’s of Alabama that provides support for grieving children and families. They have professional counseling for teens grieving the loss of close relatives or friends. They also have group counseling that allows teens to share their feelings with people who have experienced similar losses.
If you are religious and struggling with your faith, I recommend speaking to a youth minister or a religious leader in your community about your concerns. If you are Christian, Vestavia has several different clubs and organizations, like the FCA, that allow you to discuss your faith with fellow students.
Vestavia also has an LGBTQ+ Allies club for students identifying as LGBTQ+ or questioning. It is a safe space to connect with your community and promote awareness. The Trevor Project has a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth as well. The number is 1-866-488-7386. They also have several other resources and counseling services available on their website.
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