Olympic silver medalists and a Connections Academy alumna join Pearson School’s online provider of virtual events to encourage young people and parents to openly discuss mental health, well-being and hope
Columbia, MarylandAnd May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ – The Connections Academy, the all-online public school program that has been serving K-12 students for over 20 years, and part of Pearson, will host a series of virtual emotional fitness talks during Mental Health Awareness Month. Amidst a growing mental health crisis for young adults, Olympic medalists and alumna of Connections Academy Karen Chen And Lindsey Fry He will have frank discussions with Morgan Champion, Head of Counseling Services at Connections Academy, to share their personal life experiences with mental health. Interested participants can register for any of the talks here.
Each Connections Academy graduate will talk about their personal journey on a different topic, followed by questions and answers from the audience. Attendees can submit questions to speakers in advance as comments on topic posts on the ConnectsAcademy Instagram channel, or during live virtual events. Resources sponsored by the Connections Academy counseling team will be made available at the end of each session for attendees looking for resources and more information.
The talks are scheduled to take place throughout May, Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been observed since 1949 to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and celebrate healing for those who have or have experienced mental health or behavioral problems. The events will be promoted with the help of Upworthy, a platform dedicated to sharing the best of humanity, and sharing with Connections Academy families, and is open to anyone who registers, although attendance capacity is limited. Scheduled conversations include:
Lindsey Fry In finding your own style of confidence
May 18 at 4 PM Pacific Time / 7 p.m. EST
2014 Olympic silver medalist, women’s ice hockey
Arizona Communications Academy Class of 2011
MBA, Retired Women’s Ice Hockey Player, Harvard university 2015 class
Register here
Karen Chen On keeping calm under pressure
May 25 at 4 PM Pacific Time / 7 p.m. EST
2022 Olympic Silver Medalist, Figure Skating
California Communication Academy Class of 2017
women’s singles skater, Cornell University class 2025
Register here
“As educators, we believe it is our duty to prioritize the mental and emotional health of our students just as we give their physical health,” Champion said. “We hope that these conversations create safe spaces that remind families that they are never alone dealing with young people’s mental health, and that we can open more doors of communication to encourage and normalize seeking help.”
New data from the Pearson Global Survey of Learners reveals that more than two-thirds of American parents believe children should be introduced to health, wellness, and mental health awareness in elementary or middle school, while nearly 90% believe it is important for schools to take action to improve both. Mental health of students and school staff, such as providing free mental health services and resources.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 1 in 5 children living in the United States between the ages of 3 and 17 experience a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder in any given year. Furthermore, youth mental health has worsened over the course of the pandemic, with more than a third of high school students reporting poor mental health in 2021. Reassuringly, young adults who felt connected to adults and peers at school were less likely to report persistent feelings of sadness or Despair.
Connections Academy’s 47 online schools provide an alternative to public school K-12 with no tuition for families who want a different approach to educating their children – flexible, technology-enabled and outside of the traditional classroom. For over two decades, the schools have served a diverse group of over a million students including athletes competing with challenging training schedules and beyond. Health concerns and bullying have long been major driving factors for families choosing to enroll in Connections Academy’s virtual schools, which provide safe learning environments with greater flexibility to tailor students’ learning experiences to their individual social, mental and emotional needs and strengths.
To register for Connections Academy’s emotional fitness conversations and to find additional mental and emotional health resources for young adults, visit http://www.connectionsacademy.com/emotionalfitness. To learn more about Connections Academy, visit http://www.connectionsacademy.com.
About Etisalat Academy
Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free online public school for K-12 students. With 20 years of online learning experience, we know how to create a high-quality learning experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on emotional well-being and social development, and work closely with families to help students learn the best way to learn. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to guide their own educational journey, and learn to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. Connections Academy-supported schools offer grades K through 12, although some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 1-800-321-2350 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy is part of global learning company Pearson.
About Pearson
Our goal at Pearson is simple: to add life to lifelong learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is an opportunity for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our 20,000 employees at Pearson are committed to creating life-rich learning experiences designed to make an impact in real life. We are the world’s leading education company, serving clients in nearly 200 countries with digital content, ratings, qualifications and data. For us, learning is not just what we do. who are we. Visit us at pearsonplc.com
Media connection
Annie DruryEtisalat Academy, 360-513-1951, [email protected]
Alison BazinPearson, 609-247-0275, [email protected]
SOURCE Connections Academy
