At Bend-La Pine Schools, we care deeply about our students' mental health. The following resource can help connect families and students to the help they need.

Find all of our resources, including tips for talking to children about COVID-19, on our Student Mental Health webpage.

Resources

First Step Resources

Families — If you haven't yet downloaded the First Step app, we hope you'll take a minute to do so now. This app is available on all student iPads in grades 6-12.

It is our hope that families will spend a few minutes familiarizing themselves with this new tool and talking to your children about it. Inside First Step you will find resources like, “3 Ways to Help a Friend,” “Getting Through Today,” contacts for free counseling and two featured resources: SafeOregon and YouthLine.

Resources include:

• Free Counseling and Support — connect with links to local resources
• SafeOregon — students can report anything from vandalism to theft to cyberbullying via text or phone, email, or online
• YouthLine — a free and confidential teen-to-teen help line.
• Learn more about First Step on the First Step website.
• Download the app:
  • First Step on iTunes
  • First Step on Android

First Step is made possible thanks to the Bend Police Department, Lines for Life, SafeOregon and many other incredible community partners. Thank you families and have a safe spring break!

For Ongoing Support

If you or someone you know needs help, take one of the following actions:

• FAN Advocates are a great resource to help connect families and students with basic needs.
• School counselors continue to be available to support students and families during these unique and often stressful times. You can connect with each grade level counselor on a range of topics including academics, personal-emotional concerns, social conflicts, college and career information, and referrals to community resources. While school counselors do not provide ongoing therapy, they are available for solution-focused-brief-counseling, collaborative problem solving and positive support through challenging emotions and situations. School counselor contact information is available on each school website, see a list of schools here.
• Oregon Youthline (a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863
• Deschutes County Crisis Line 541-322-7500 ext. 9
• Contact school counseling center or other mental health professional
• Deschutes County Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Number: 541-693-6911
• Call Deschutes County Behavioral Health 541-322-7500
• Oregon State University - Cascades has a free counseling clinic in Bend and La Pine 541-322-2047 (services provided by counseling students in training for those ages 14 and older)
• Mind Your Mind is a website from Deschutes County is an everyday mental health awareness campaign from Deschutes County Health Services and Central Oregon Health Council — which includes providers and health advocates from Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes Counties.