News & Updates

Academic success in high school and beyond help connect young people to stable careers and a self-sufficient future. But many area teens are dealing with mental and emotional struggles that put their future at risk.

That’s where your support makes a difference. ThriveMind, one of our signature solutions, is a collaboration with Carle BroMenn Behavioral Health Counseling and the Lexington, Olympia, Ridgeview, and Le Roy school districts. Students needing mental health support are matched with Carle BroMenn therapists.

Teens receive full therapy services that are 100% covered through the ThriveMind initiative because friends like you partner with United Way of McLean County.
 

TEENS ARE IN CRISIS

Schools are reporting a significant decline in teen mental health since COVID. For teens with emotional and mental distress, free mental health support like ThriveMind keeps students in school and up-to-date academically — which can make the difference between graduating high school or dropping out.

^{1 National Center for Education Statistics, May 31, 2022}

^{2 Health City by Boston Medical Center}

OLYMPIA STUDENT FINDS TRUSTED SUPPORT

Rory* first began regular counseling sessions with a therapist at Carle BroMenn after making a threat in the classroom. Educators take these kinds of instances seriously, even if the situation feels like an anomaly to a student’s previous behavior.

Such was the case for Rory, who has not had any more behavioral offenses since their ThriveMind referral. Olympia High School’s counselors are confident that ThriveMind makes a difference for students like Rory.

“As school counselors, the ability to refer students for ThriveMind counseling has allowed us to focus on preventative services without having the pressure of being the sole providers for students that really need more extensive support. We have been able to move away from being in a constant triage state thanks to ThriveMind and United Way.”

— Olympia School District counselors

After meeting regularly with a trusted adult, Rory has done better academically and gotten good grades in a majority of their courses. Behaviorally, they are once again considered an approachable and friendly student, to both peers and adults. Now successfully discharged from the program, Rory continues on a path of success, thanks to the network of mental health support from ThriveMind.

^{*Name changed used to protect student privacy}