Help the High School Students at Saugus High

The tragic high school school shooting in Santa Clarita has seemed to weigh even heavier on my heart in the two days since we learned that another rush of students and staff were forced to run and hide from a violent act on their campus. It was just too close to home. A sweet town, one hour away from us, in a community similar to ours, and filled with children and families just like our own. It could have been us. I woke this morning with an overwhelming feeling to figure out a way to help. Because helping some way and some how feels like the only thing we can do to show some support in this moment. As a school psychologist, I am extra aware of the long term effects that grief, childhood trauma, and tragedy in general takes on our students. The mental health needs that will shadow the staff, students, and families in Santa Clarita will be great for years to come. Early intervention with large and small resources to help build resiliency are so important. In honor of the most recent victims, in love for all the students and families at Saugus High School, and in support for all school psychologists near and far, I am asking you to join me in showing that Bakersfield (and the school psychologist community at large) cares. Being the end of National School Psychologist Awareness week, let’s give a little extra help to the first responders in that school so that they might better help those students. They need our support to help those students be one step close to healing. Over the past few hours, I considered many ways to go about this. I have decided to use the all the funds donated to purchase as many weighted blankets as we can for the students at Saugus High. Weighted blankets have been shown to have so many mental health benefits including assisting with anxiety, sleep/insomnia, and other significant symptoms of stress and sensory processing. The blankets will be gifted to the School Psychologist Team at Saugus High to disperse to the students as needed. Please share and donate today to help purchase this specific stress management gift for these children as they work through this trauma. Let’s do something, together!!