The Harris Project Founder Speaks with Parents about Co-Occurring Disorders

Supporting student mental health is one of Eastchester’s top strategic priorities.

On Feb. 27, Eastchester High School parents got a look at some of the important work happening in our schools, when Stephanie Marquesano, founder of the Harris Project, gave a presentation on how to identify and support individuals who may be suffering from co-occurring disorders. 

“Co-Occurring disorders” is a term used to describe the presence of two or more mental health conditions or substance abuse issues that occur simultaneously in an individual. Marquesano, who lost her son Harris to an accidental overdose when he was just 19, started the foundation in 2013 to educate students and their families on wellness and offer an array of strategies to identify and support someone who may be suffering from what can often seem like an invisible affliction.

Presented in conjunction with the Care Coalition and the high school PTA, Marquesano’s talk was connected to a pilot program that is currently being implemented in several school districts—the first program of its kind nation-wide to tackle the issue of co-occurring disorders.

On Thursday night, she confronted parents with some alarming figures about the widespread nature of co-occurring disorders and their impact on young people. 

According to research, 49.5% of teens aged 13-18 have experienced a mental health challenge, and 50% of mental health challenges first arise by the age of 14. Marquesano went on to say that 50% of people with substance abuse issues also face mental health challenges, meaning that more than 21 million people in the United States meet the criteria for a diagnosis of a co-occurring disorder. 

These mental health conditions can be exacerbated by substance abuse, which can refer to alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, stimulants and more. 

“I don’t list these to scare you, I show you the list to say that all of these are end results,” said Marquesano. “But if you educate and empower young people to think about why they should say ‘no’, that is the home run.”

EUFSD Assistant to the Superintendent for K-12 Services Dr. William Meyer thanked Marquesano for her time and noted that the partnership between Eastchester and the Harris Project been successful thus far, as it has strengthened health instruction at the high school level.

“They contacted us this summer to let us know that they had this curriculum and they wanted to pilot it in multiple school districts,” said Meyer. “It’s a three-day component of a unit we already teach but it offers a deeper dive by adding information on co-occurring disorders to the broader discussion of drug addiction.

“They also let us know that they wanted to reach out to the broader community and wanted to speak to parents about this topic, so we worked with them to set up an opportunity to do that,” he added.

Meyer believes that the stresses placed on high school-aged students can be overwhelming, and that without a proper support system, some individuals may ultimately harm themselves in an attempt to self-regulate. To that end, the information provided by the Harris Project and by Eastchester’s health educators can serve a vital function in giving individuals the knowledge they need to identify the signs of co-occurring disorders in order to provide support for a friend or loved one.

“One of the biggest takeaways is that often, when young people are struggling with mental health disorders, they can develop unhealthy coping mechanisms that can quickly escalate into very problematic behaviors,” said Meyer. “So I think if there is anything to take away from this talk, it’s to be mindful of these initial manifestations like anxiety. If they aren’t addressed during adolescence, such issues can leave openings for less-productive coping behaviors.If we don’t address this as a community, the stakes are a lot higher than they were 20 years ago, given the strength of the substances available.”

Meyer said he expects this work to continue to be a vital piece of the educational experience in Eastchester and lauded the district’s health educators for their enthusiasm and care in tackling this difficult subject.

“Everything we are doing speaks to the strength of our health department and our teachers, who have taken the lead on this work as well as work in child safety. It’s been amazing to see the way our teachers in the health department have embraced this because they’ve been so open, willing and flexible since day one,” he added. 

“They have been looking for ways to connect with outside partners and provide the most cutting-edge curriculum to our students and that is exciting.”

To watch a replay of the Feb. 27 presentation on Co-Occurring Disorders, please click the link provided HERE.