As educators continue to focus on the mental health of students, one school is offering its expertise.

The Charlton School was founded in 1895 as a home for youth homelessness. Since then, the all-girl school has grown to specialize in education surrounding issues such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

“We’re really providing a space for kids to feel comfortable, to feel like they can talk about things that are difficult,” said Sarah McCabe, social emotional learning coordinator.

All students are required to take a class focused on social emotional learning (SEL), which leads to self-regulation skills and strategies.

“So when I started taking this class, we learned a lot about a lot of key things that “normal people” are expected to know. But it’s never that simple,” said Sophia, a student at The Charlton School.

Administrators introduced the SEL course during the pandemic, although planning had been in the works for some time. They credit it for keeping Charlton students focused and able to handle the changing world around them.

“They need to understand how to manage their anxiety, how to manage their stress and not just someone saying to them, ‘You need to do it differently, you need to do it better,’ but specifically saying, ‘Here’s a strategy. Here’s a tool. Here’s a skill that you can use when you’re feeling this way,’” said Tina Crego, the school’s education director.

As more traditional high schools begin to deal with students suffering during the pandemic, educators at Charlton hope it will serve as a resource. They believe it’s the only high school in the region offering an SEL class.

“These are things that can really be worked on within the public school setting, if people are really explicitly teaching it and they’re taking the time to work it into what they’re doing. So the kids can learn those skills in addition to algebra and multiplication,” said Crego.

Students at Charlton routinely journal and hold group discussions on what they’re feeling. They’re small things that go a long way.

“It’s helping me now, like I can regulate myself. I can figure things out without starting to panic,” said Sophia.

Before this year, Sophia was in a public high school and she believes this kind of approach would have helped her earlier.

“I hope other schools can get that message and can start doing those classes because they’re nothing but beneficial,” she said.