Mental Health with Mrs. Bruno – Middle School Anxiety

“What does mental health look like for middle school students? Here at DVMS, we encourage any student who may feel the need to speak to someone regarding any concerns they may have to come to the counseling department to get the proper attention and follow up help whether it be in or out of school,” says Mrs. Bruno. If you have never met her, Mrs. Bruno is the social worker here at DVMS and is a very helpful mental health counselor. 

Mental health is a very important component in young teens’ lives, especially nowadays. You may not know it yet, but you or someone around you could be struggling a lot with a mental health condition. “Most children grow up mentally healthy, but surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago.” 

One of these mental health conditions is anxiety. You may think you know what anxiety is, but some parts of it may even apply to you. “Middle school anxiety includes worrying about academics and being successful.” Mrs. Bruno has some advice about people who are knowingly, or possibly unknowingly, struggling with anxiety. “Always remember your past successes in school, look at your resources (tutoring, study skills group), practice breathing, and keep as organized as you can. We have a great guidance department to help you figure things out.” If you are struggling with any of these things and feel you need help or even someone to talk to, don’t be embarrassed to come down to the counseling department at DVMS. And always remember, “Students who are optimistic, resilient, have some control over their lives, and feel like they belong are more likely to have good mental well-being.“