BRIDGEPORT — The Bridgeport Exempted Village School District has extra support on hand with a team to assist youth facing mental health struggles.

School-based therapists Kayla Dixon and Patrick Britton of Southeast Healthcare, prevention specialists Holly Garvin and Dorothy Matusic of Belmont Student Services and school counselor Vicki Falcone are available throughout the week and help elementary through high school students facing such issues as ADHD, anxiety, depression and more. Dixon said the longtime program offers students a chance to speak with professionals and receive the help they need.

“There are two agencies that provide mental health services. Southeast provides direct mental health therapy services that can be individual or group counseling and crisis services and Belmont Student Services provide prevention education and promote mental health awareness,” she said.

She is a licensed independent social worker who has been in the mental health field for the past eight years with six of them at Bridgeport schools. Dixon provides crisis mental health services and individual therapy to students in the district. Britton is a licensed social worker and has served in the district for the past year. He also provides crisis services and individual therapy for pupils.

Meanwhile, Garvin is a state-certified prevention specialist for grades K-8 and works in the classroom, in small group settings and one-on-one with students. She provides education focusing on preventing substance abuse and suicide and works with students on social and emotional needs. Matusic is available Tuesdays and Thursdays and helps high schoolers deal with non-academic barriers, prevention education and promoting overall mental health awareness.

Additionally, Falcone is a longtime fixture in the school system and taught home economics for 10 years. She has served as school counselor for the past three decades and works in the high school building.

Dixon said specialists are on hand all day and students may be referred by parents or school officials.

“We treat all disorders under the mental health umbrella,” she added. “We are here for the students and their families, so they should not be afraid to reach out for help.”

Superintendent Brent Ripley said the program’s purpose is to ensure all of the students’ needs are being met.

“We’ve been offering therapy services for about six years and added staff, so this is our fourth year with the capacity we have,” he said. “Student mental health is a huge issue. We live in a day and age where we want to meet the child’s every need. Providing this service is a benefit to the kids and the families who possibly cannot afford it.”

For more information about the program, call 740-635-1713.