Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County breaking teen mental health treatment barriers

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Teens can have a lot of stressors in their lives and may not think to check in on their mental health. The Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joe County is encouraging them to take the time to check in and making it easy for them to do so. 

Mental health counseling and therapy are free at The Club, its teen center. 

There is a licensed social worker on site, who also works at The Portage School of Leaders during the day. 

For teens who may not know where to start, drop-in hours are available for professional mental health consultations. 

Workshops are optional, teens are given topics and get to decide if it's something they could benefit from or not. 

The Club is also the only site with a restorative room, which was Director of Emotional Wellbeing Erica Kelsey's vision. The space offers sensory activities, promoting grounding and mindfulness. 

Yoga, massage chairs, grounding mats, sensory boards, and more are all available, too. 

These help teens ground themselves to the space and get the most out of their sessions. 

Mental health has been a growing conversation since the pandemic and often there are not enough resources, or long waits for ones that are available. 

Kelsey says the big focus is eliminating common barriers to mental health treatment like stigma, transportation or finances.

For specific hours, call the club at (574) 232-2048.

More info on resources available to club teens is available on The Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County's website.