This winter, Holderness offered a Teen Mental Health First Aid course for students interested in learning more about mental health and how to support themselves and their peers.

Co-taught by Dean of Students Tyler Cabot and school counselor Joanna Lightburn, the course provides students with practical, evidence-based tools to recognize common signs of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as how to respond when someone may be struggling or in crisis.

At the end of the course, students receive official Teen Mental Health First Aid certification, a nationally recognized credential.

Building Skills to Support Teen Mental Health

The importance of this course lies in its focus on early recognition and peer support. Adolescence is a time when many mental health concerns first emerge, and teens are often the first to notice changes in their friends’ behavior or mood. 

This training helps students move beyond simply wanting to help and instead feel confident knowing what to say, what not to say, and when to involve a trusted adult. Just as traditional first aid empowers people to respond to physical injuries, Teen Mental Health First Aid equips students to respond thoughtfully and responsibly to emotional and psychological concerns.

Strengthening a Culture of Care

Students will implement their learning in everyday, meaningful ways. Rather than acting as counselors, they are taught to listen nonjudgmentally, offer reassurance, encourage professional support, and help reduce stigma around mental health. 

We hope our students will bring these skills back to their dorms, friend groups, and leadership roles. Over time, this shared language and skill set will strengthen a culture of care at Holderness, where students feel better prepared to look out for one another and to ask for help themselves when they need it.

About the Author

Joanna Lightburn
School Counselor

Joanna Lightburn joined Holderness in 2023. Joanna serves as a school counselor and capstone faculty. She earned a B.S. in Human Services from Northeastern University and an M.S.W. in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. Prior to joining Holderness, she was the School Counselor at Darrow School. Joanna enjoys going for relaxing walks, immersing herself in a good book, and spending time with loved ones.