For the Community

On this page, you will be provided with different local resources and departments in and around Milford to assist with any needs, including the purpose and support that the Milford guidance department has to offer. There are also some stories from students within our community that have dealt with mental health, and questions that are answered by our own guidance department.

Milford's Guidance Department

For the guidance staff at Milford High School, click here.

For Stacy Middle School, click here.

For Woodland Elementary School, click here.

For Memorial Elementary School, click here.

For Brookside Elementary School, click here.

All responses below are made through collaborating staff members of the Milford High School guidance department.

What's the purpose of the guidance department?

The purpose of the guidance department is to support student needs in the areas of academic planning, social-emotional development and future goals.

What's the difference between a guidance and an adjustment counselor? What about a school psychologist?

Adjustment counselors attend exclusively to the mental health and social emotional needs of students while guidance counselors, in addition, have a substantial focus on academic and future planning. School psychologists may also counsel students but spend substantial time doing psychological testing--a role only they can play. There is and will continue to be overlap in these roles depending on each individual student's needs.

Who should I go to for what? When?

Go first to your guidance counselor! Your guidance counselor is the one constant throughout your high school years and will be able to assess your needs and make the proper referrals and introductions to get you the support you need. If you don't feel comfortable going to your counselor, reach out to a trusted teacher or even a friend to help connect you to your counselor.

To the Parents:

A big aspect of mental wellness is being able to talk with a trusted adult. For a lot of kids, approaching a teacher or counselor at school may feel intimidating and scary, which is why the role of being a parent or guardian is so important. Besides the more logical aspects, like food and housing, having a trusted parent or guardian for kids can benefit not only their linguistic development, but can also provide strength in their mental and emotional areas of life. It may be obvious, but a lot of parents have their own ways of raising their kids, and that's okay! However, strong ties between an adult and their kid raises that child's self-esteem and lets them mature in a more confident manner. No child wants to go to a place where they feel trapped, like they can't be themselves. So parents, please be sure that you are maintaining a good relationship with your kids. Accept them for who they are, and let them be comfortable and grow confidently over their next few years. School is a difficult place. Between finding a group of friends and the rigorous classwork, many students are often struggling in silence. Watch for any signals that they could be struggling mentally, and don't be scared to check in on them!

Through the Minds of Teens

Below are questions and comments from the kids of Milford regarding mental health. If you wish to submit an anonymous response, click here.

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Student questions with responses:

"How can my overthinking be minimized?"

Overthinking is a habit and one that can be trained out with consistent practice. Thought stopping using mindfulness (staying in the moment) and grounding techniques to interrupt your thoughts on a regular basis can retrain your brain to step back from the edge. Thought challenging, though a longer term skill, can also help you think differently. You can challenge thoughts on your own by actively trying to dispute them or you can talk to someone who can help you challenge them. Thought filing--moving thoughts in your brain into different categories of how likely they are to occur, can help clear your mind and prevent you from perseverating or spiraling. Mental health is just like physical health, it is always a work in progress. Think of these skills as the gym for your mental health and reach out to someone you trust if you are feeling overwhelmed.

"I have been struggling on how to eat again recently."

There is no quick answer to address this specific concern. Issues with food and eating are complex and are best dealt with in conjunction with a specialist and ongoing treatment. It is important that you identify people in your life that you trust and can be honest about your struggles with. You will need help with accountability. Talking to a counselor or your parents to learn more about what types of support you need are a good first step. If you are not ready to take that step, you can still get support from a crisis line. Text NEDA to 741741 to connect to someone who can support you with issues specific to food.

"I feel like guidance tries all they can to talk to us when needed but it’s so difficult cause they’re always with another student and I feel like I’m not valued as much as I should be. they always say they’re gonna call me down but never really did."

That must be really frustrating. It is so hard to have needs and feel like they are going unmet AND to take the huge step of asking for help when we all know how hard that is to do and not get any. Because of the demands placed on counselors, it is entirely possible that some students just don't feel seen because someone else's stuff always seems more important. I hate that for you. It is important that you know that you are important to your counselor and you should not stop asking for help. Have a teacher call or come with you, email to set up an appointment, stop by between classes, come in early to make an appointment, swing by on the way to the bathroom! Just don't fade away and think no one cares. I know it can be frustrating to keep pushing but know that you are never bothering your counselor in trying to meet. Counselors need your help in making sure you feel seen and valued.

"How is the school working with students to improve their mental health?"

1. The school is actively recruiting diverse additions to our counseling staff so that all students have an opportunity to meet with counselors in multiple languages.

2. We have redeveloped a program for kids dealing with serious and debilitating mental health issues in the building.

3. We have mental health counselors from the community stationed in our school to remove barriers to care for students.

4. We have district wide school social workers to help connect students and families with resources to support mental health.

5. We have a full time SEL Director who finds and provides professional development opportunities for counselors so that we can better support students. She also forms community partnerships to bring resources directly to our families.

6. We run community based group counseling to help students improve life skills.

We are always open to constructive suggestions about how we can better meet the needs of our student's mental health. If you have them, reach out!

Student's stories and struggles:

Student a: Recently, I had a very extensive surgery done and didn’t realize/ was never told how long the recovery would be. Ever since the surgery i’ve been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. The endless days of being home, in my room alone not being able to do anything. Watching everyone do something fun was hard. Also, be stripped away from your independence was hard as well. You know it’ll get better, but you don’t know when.

Student b: I would just like to shout out the guidance department at MHS. I had a long period of time in high school where I couldn't afford a therapist, and Ms. Detore was there for me for all four years. I have also had awful experiences with counselors at many different schools before, but she was an exception. Especially during COVID and the 2020-21 school year, she became one of my primary supports. She took the initiative to check in on me when I showed signs of declining, and was one of the first people to notice when I reached the point of needing an inpatient stay. Without her, I believe that I would not have received the support I needed to get diagnosed and treated.

I've also found so much support from my teachers. Having taken so many advanced classes, I was worried that my personal struggles would affect my academic performance. However, they were all so understanding, and they helped me readjust to life outside the hospital in ways I hadn't expected.

Although I don't currently attend MHS, I would advise younger people in the community to utilize the support network available to them. It's always important to seek the help of a therapist, psychiatrist, or other professional, but, should you be blocked from those, remember that you still have so many resources that are here for you. I hope that, in light of recent events, these resources and the strength of the Milford community will continue to improve and support younger community members.

The response page will continue to be updated as more stories and questions are gathered. All responses remain anonymous and are there for others to resonate with. Thank you!