Jace Deakins, Student

"There's mechanisms that will help you cope and deal with what you're going through."

Student Jace Deakins speaks to a reporter about how Alongside helps him now and in the future...

JACE: It goes to show you that whatever the problem is, it really at the end of the day will not be that bad. And if it is, there's mechanisms that will help you cope and deal with what you're going through.
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REPORTER:This is important as teen mental health continues to be in crisis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 50% of teens have some type of mental illness. Clay Community School's assistant superintendent Tim Rayle says it's hard to get students the help they need. That's because mental health counselors are in short supply.
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ASST. SUPERINTENDENT TIM RAYLE: They just aren't available. So this isn't taking the place of that, but it's providing resources for our students in terms of self-help.

REPORTER: Rayle says  school administration will still be alerted of any red flags in student interactions with the app. And if the school board approves of the program, students in grades six through 12 would have access to it. Deakins hopes this is the case. As he says, he has learned some skills he'll use for the rest of his life.

JACE: I can figure out mechanisms and strategies now, as a teen. When I'm 20, 30, 40, 50 years old, I'll be able to deal with my mental health better then, now that I'm learning now.

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