As the founder of the Greenbrier Academy for Girls, L. Jay Mitchell provides direction to a West Virginia-based school that provides therapeutic assistance to teens with emotional and behavioral problems. L. Jay Mitchell’s institution has had lasting effects with helping girls cope with symptoms of depression and regain a sense of hope and joy in the process.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, nearly 25 percent of teen girls nationwide exhibit symptoms of depression. Many over-consume social media, and they often feel inadequate in their own bodies and dislike their weight and appearance. As a result, they can start to hate themselves and one another. Each girl’s experience in learning to manage depression reflects her own life journey and the pressures and anxieties that she feels. There is no one-size-fits-all method for treating depression, but studies demonstrate that a positive environment and a caring community play a critical role in improving teen mental health.
Greenbrier’s approach focuses on instilling a sense of belonging and encouraging personal growth, no matter how challenging it might seem at first. With support from staff and peers, girls can learn to trust those around them and feel secure in their own bodies, rather than striving for perfection. The school puts an emphasis on creating a caring and therapeutic environment where young women can gain confidence in themselves and find a level of self-love that prevents others’ negative opinions from bringing them down.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, nearly 25 percent of teen girls nationwide exhibit symptoms of depression. Many over-consume social media, and they often feel inadequate in their own bodies and dislike their weight and appearance. As a result, they can start to hate themselves and one another. Each girl’s experience in learning to manage depression reflects her own life journey and the pressures and anxieties that she feels. There is no one-size-fits-all method for treating depression, but studies demonstrate that a positive environment and a caring community play a critical role in improving teen mental health.
Greenbrier’s approach focuses on instilling a sense of belonging and encouraging personal growth, no matter how challenging it might seem at first. With support from staff and peers, girls can learn to trust those around them and feel secure in their own bodies, rather than striving for perfection. The school puts an emphasis on creating a caring and therapeutic environment where young women can gain confidence in themselves and find a level of self-love that prevents others’ negative opinions from bringing them down.
