Mental Health

The mission of Northfield High School’s Mental Health team is to provide the highest quality evidence-based prevention for suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse by training, supporting, and empowering both peer

Mission

The mission of Northfield High School’s Mental Health team is to provide the highest quality evidence-based prevention for suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults to impact their world through the power of connection, hope, help and strength. 

Vision

We believe that many strengths are more powerful than one, and our united goal is to activate and mobilize these strengths in ways that positively change individuals and communities.

Criteria for Referring to School-Based Therapy at Northfield High School

*Referrals to school-based therapy may be made by school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and administrators.

• A student demonstrates mental health needs that exceed the scope of practice of school counselors.
• A student demonstrates a history of unaddressed or under-addressed mental health needs.
• A student does not currently receive outpatient therapy outside of school.
• A student demonstrates financial barriers that render outpatient therapy outside of the school a hardship.
• A student demonstrates transportation barriers that render outpatient therapy outside of the school a hardship.

Mental Health Resources

Alec Trussell	School Psychologist	alec_trussell@dpsk12.org
Richard Knight	School Psychologist	richard_knight@dpsk12.net
Tyler Maldonado	School Social Worker	tyler_maldonado@dpsk12.org
Sarah Hartman	School Social Worker	sarah_hartman@dpsk12.net

Substance Use and Prevention Resources

Welcome to our page of resources and information about substance use prevention. Please contact your counselor for help navigating these resources. We understand that getting help can feel overwhelming. We’re here to support you!

Connecting as a Form of Prevention

Please read this important blog post from our partners at the DPS Substance Use Prevention Program about connection and the the relationship between youth who experience higher levels of connectedness as teens and the decrease in risk of mental health challenges, violence, sexual risks, and substance use of those youth.

Be the Influence

As you may know, Denver Public Schools is partnering with an organization called Be the Influence (BTI). BTI is a parent support program for a network of parents who are dedicated to doing all they can to keep their teens safe and away from drugs for as long as possible. BTI provides access to a secure database of this network of Denver parents who pledge to host teen parties free of alcohol, marijuana, nicotine and other drugs. BTI sends out bi-monthly newsletters to its parents with parenting tips and facts about different drugs. There is also an option for parents to receive these newsletters without making the pledge. We invite you to check out www.betheinfluence.us for more information about this community.

To view BTI’s latest Blog on teen use of marijuana – with information on the latest trends, products and studies. Learn more about health effects and other risks for teen use of marijuana.

Information on Vaping

Please take a look at these flyers regarding teen vaping. Youth Vaping Flyer and Parents/Adults Flyer

DenverRAP

This website has many different resources for community events/support and drug and alcohol treatment. This is a great place to start.
DenverRAP.org
720-423-2269

This is a link to the DenverRAP Activity Calendar for December. This calendar provides information on free activities happening in the Denver area. You can also have information about free activities happening in Denver sent directly to your phone by texting “DenverRAP” to 67076.

Speak Now

Quick, relatable tips to talk to your teen about drug and alcohol use.
speaknowcolorado.org

Social & Emotional Supports

Our mission is to actively support the academic and social-emotional success of all Northfield students. We advocate for students to receive appropriate mental health support and obtain an equal public education in a safe and secure environment. We collaborate with Northfield staff, parents/guardians, outside community resources, and students to ensure that all Northfield students can access the general education.