Eli’s Story
After a Mental Health Essentials class at Arsenal Tech High School…
a sophomore named Eli stayed behind to talk with Hannah, one of our LifeSmart Youth educators.
The classroom had mostly emptied when he quietly asked:
“Can I take one of those resource cards?”
As they talked, Eli shared that mental illness runs in his family. Recently, he had started noticing signs of stress in his own life too.
Before taking Mental Health Essentials, he didn't know how to talk about what he was feeling.
But that day, he asked for help.
Hannah gave Eli a resource card and talked with him about trusted adults and support systems. Before leaving, he thanked her and said he planned to reach out to someone.
Later, Eli’s teacher shared he had noticed he seemed more withdrawn recently.
Sometimes, students do not need a big moment.
They just need someone safe to talk to.
