Grace Magill Project Focuses on Mental Health to Prevent Teen Tragedies

April 19, 2007

What's New

What is unique about Edgewood's Grace Magill Project is that rather than focusing on a specific issue — like violence, suicide, depression, bullying, and eating disorders— this program takes a holistic approach to meeting a teenager’s overall mental health needs.

Program Goals

• To improve adolescent mental health and well-being. 
• The program supports schools in creating an environment that encourages a holistic approach to wellness including: emotional, social, physical, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual well-being. It also works to destigmatize mental health issues among teenagers and creates resources for teens in need.

Objective

The objective of the Edgewood Grace Magill Project is to create a research-based model to present to schools that will:

• Assess school’s strengths and weaknesses in addressing adolescent well-being
• Identify and bridge gaps in services which address adolescent well-being
• Partner with other agencies and organizations to get teens the support they require
• Implement programs and resources to meet those areas of need 

How the Program Was Created

The Edgewood Grace Magill Project is based on research. The approach was derived from the extensive work of the Summit held in January 2006 that looked at programs worldwide with a focus on outcomes. Additionally, Edgewood conducted research on: wellness; suicide prevention; mental health resources available to schools, parents, and teens in the Bay Area; assessment tools; other research-based prevention programs; risk-screening instruments; and a variety of wellness-building/destigmatization programs.

About Grace Magill

Anne and Jim Magill established a memorial fund at Edgewood after their daughter Grace died of suicide in January 2005. Edgewood's Grace Magill Project explores ways to better serve the mental health needs of teens by providing a school-based program that serves students, families, faculty, and administrators.  

Media Contact

Bryce Eberhart
Communications Director
brycee@edgewoodcenter.org

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