By RACHELLE GARDNER
Guest Columnist
With more than 30 years working in mental health, I’ve learned one of the most difficult aspects for people when destigmatizing substance use disorder is feeling seen. This is why founding Hope Academy 18 years ago, alongside other industry leaders, has been one of the most rewarding moments of my career.
Hope Academy is one of nine accredited recovery schools in the country and the only one in Indiana, making our services critically important to young Hoosiers in pursuit of sobriety and their high school education. We specialize in serving high school students coming to us from many communities throughout the state. At Hope Academy, students not only receive help with their academics, but they also receive mental health support and addiction recovery tools alongside their peers who may be struggling with a similar situation.
Unfortunately, adolescent treatment programs have diminished significantly in Indiana, and throughout the entire country. A recent study by UCLA researchers from 2020 to 2022 revealed an average of 22 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 are dying from drug overdoses each week in the United States. Marion County stands out as one of the most fatal counties, being named a “hotspot county” by The White House. This alarming statistic makes it clear our programming is critically important now more than ever.
Hope Academy is in a unique position to fill the gaps and holistically support students while offering long-term recovery options. When a person is struggling with addiction, there is almost always a mental health aspect at play. As such, it is crucial to look at these students through a whole health lens versus addressing a standalone symptom.
Recently, Hope Academy students and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield mental health professionals came together with players from the Indy Fuel to host ‘Hockey Talks,’ a mental health initiative that helps adolescents break down barriers and stigmas surrounding issues that everyday teenagers face. The program helps students feel safe and understood and fosters much-needed awareness in the community. Players offer guidance to local students on how to navigate mental health issues, such as participating in hobbies, maintaining balance throughout life, proper sleep and nutrition, as well as supportive social circles.
Hope Academy students learned to be forthcoming about their experiences and challenges, and hearing the Indy Fuel players relate to them on the same level made our students feel seen and heard in a way they might not otherwise see possible. Put simply, by coming together for ‘Hockey Talks,’ we are beginning to normalize the conversation around mental health and wellness.
Regardless of whether you are a professional athlete or a high school student, we are all humans who struggle. If we continue to have genuine community conversations such as ‘Hockey Talks’ with health partners like Anthem, we can help normalize and destigmatize these struggles, especially for our youth.
Rachelle Gardner is Hope Academy’s Executive Director and one of the school’s founders. She began her career as an addiction’s counselor, and previously served as director of adolescent services at Fairbanks Recovery Center and as the board chair for the Association of Recovery Schools. Rachelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Indiana University, and a master’s degree in organizational management. She is also a licensed clinical addiction counselor in Indiana. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she is passionate about helping adolescents affected by drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.