BESSEMER, Ala. (WBRC) – Students at a Bessemer school are getting help managing their emotions from some four-legged friends.
At Empower Community School, therapy dogs are part of the school’s social and emotional learning efforts, giving students another way to talk about their feelings and learn how to cope with emotional challenges.
Empower Community School(WBRC)
During a recent session, students spent time with a therapy dog while practicing ways to calm down, reflect, and express how they feel.
“It’s pretty unusual because we don’t get that many pets at school. Animals are like comfort to humans,” said Josiah Jeter, a student at Empower Community School.
The program is funded through a grant that provides one pet-therapy session each month throughout the school year.
School Principal Dr. Luther Riley said the program is especially meaningful in September which is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
“First of all, being that this is Suicide Prevention Month, and I guess the word is prevention. So what we have to do is create opportunities for our students, those that have social-emotional challenges, to meet them where they are,” Riley said.
The school also uses community circles and social workers to help address students’ social, emotional and academic needs.
STEM teacher Dr. Yuvraj Verma said supporting students’ mental health is an important part of helping them succeed in the classroom.
Bessemer students receive emotional support from therapy dogs.(WBRC)
“Mental health, I think, is very important. You can’t expect children to do schoolwork if they’re having some type of challenges internally,” Verma said.
For some students, the experience with the therapy dogs is something they would like to see more often.
“I would definitely love that the school does this more often,” said student Eryn Pugh.
School leaders say they hope to continue providing these opportunities throughout the school year as another way to support students’ social and emotional well-being. September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with mental health organizations and communities using the month to promote awareness, support, and prevention.
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