When I was seventeen I was admitted to a hospital because of my depression. Although I look back now and can understand it was necessary for me at the time, it was not a positive experience. One of the fears that I had while I was there was catching up on my schoolwork. I thought I would fall behind to the point of no return. But that’s when I was introduced to the bridge program.
The bridge program at my school was defined as a program that provides academic, social, and emotional support to students re-entering school after an inpatient hospitalization and/or partial hospitalization for mental health concerns. While I was in the hospital, the bridge program acted as an in-between with me and my teachers, letting them know the situation (to a degree), compiling work that I needed to get done, and organizing everything so that when I eventually went home I was not immediately overwhelmed by everything I had to do. When I went back to school in person I learned there was even more available to me now through this program. There was a specific room where students in the program could come to calm down or do work. They had staff you could talk to, fidgets, snacks, etc. Before this I had never even noticed this room was there.
At first, I thought I wouldn’t need to use any of these extra supports. I was ok! I could go back to school like nothing happened! Little did I know these supports would end up being a game changer for me. Within two months of being back in school, I had to go to an outpatient program. I ended my school year early because of this. I was only able to pass my junior year with the help of the bridge program.
When I returned for my senior year of high school I felt ready to take on the year. I again thought I could do it on my own. I knew the bridge program was still a support I could access, but I was planning on barely ever using it. I stacked my classes with APs and Honors like my friends. I started off my year ok but I soon realized I had seriously overshot my mental capacity again. I started to become grateful that I was able to go to the bridge program room on days when I couldn’t keep my emotions in check in class. I was always able to have a quiet space and someone to talk to. Unfortunately, as my mental health began to decline again I started having an incredibly hard time going to school. I would drive to school every morning, only to not be able to muster up the courage to step inside, and eventually leave. However, the staff at the bridge program were by my side throughout all of this. They tried to get me to come inside just to sit in their room instead of going immediately to class. One staff member would even offer to walk out to my car so we could walk in together. Even though I never followed through with that offer, the fact that I knew I had people in the building who supported me meant so much. That year they helped me through another outpatient program and gave me the boost I needed to graduate on time. To this day I feel incredibly lucky to have had access to this program and to have had such a positive experience with them amid such a challenging time in my life.
Written by a Youth MOVE Massachusetts Youth Advocate
This article highlights an outstanding, seemingly unknown resource to adolescents, families, and the schools. Is the Bridge Program available in every high school in Massachusetts? To learn more, should families contact school Administration to learn more? Thanks for raising awareness.
Unfortunately, there is not a bridge program at every high school in Massachusetts, but to my knowledge, there are over 150 similar programs currently implemented in Massachusetts public schools. The program mentioned in the article operated under the BRYT network, a program from the Brookline Center. This is the website for the BRYT page, which goes more in-depth on their mission and services: https://www.brooklinecenter.org/centers/bryt/. Here is a page more specific to the bridge program mentioned in the article, at a middle school in the Framingham school district, that has helpful information including some information on their referral criteria: https://sites.google.com/framingham.k12.ma.us/walshbridgeprogram/welcome?authuser=0 .
If a family has questions about their school district, contacting a counselor at the school or an administrator would be the best place to start! I hope this helps to answer your questions!
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s so important for families and for teens who are struggling to know that there are people at school who can help. I’m so glad the bridge program was available to you.