Heather Klein was sitting in her cabin at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah, enjoying her morning iced tea, when she received a photo on her phone that took her breath away. As the mental-health coordinator for a network of sleep-away camps, Klein’s morning routine involved answering queries from worried parents who had seen the previous night’s online photos. They wanted to know why their children looked sad and where their friends were. This particular message was from a counselor and it was serious. A teenage camper had switched from high-tops to Crocs and the counselor noticed a row of cuts on her ankle made with a razor.
Klein immediately pulled up the girl’s medical forms, which revealed that she had been receiving therapy for anxiety and depression, although there was no mention of self-harm. Realizing the severity of the situation, Klein made the decision that the girl would need to go home.
As the mental-health coordinator for NJY Camps, a network of Jewish overnight camps, Klein spent her days navigating serious risks, regular unhappiness, and parental anxiety. Throughout the day, as campers went about their activities, Klein would zip around camp in a golf cart equipped with a fanny pack and a walkie-talkie.
While summer camp has always involved some level of emotional struggle, youth mental illness has become an urgent problem in the country. The suicide rate for Americans aged 10 to 19 has increased by 40% between 2001 and 2019, and emergency room visits for self-harm have risen by 88%. Camp directors have noted that during the pandemic summers, campers arrived with more severe mental health issues than ever before, surpassing the capabilities of their teenage and twenty-something counselors.
Camp Eagle Ridge director Kelly Rossebo recalled a night in 2021 when she and her mental-health specialist had to tackle issues like suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and binge drinking. This heightened level of mental health concerns has forced camp directors to have difficult conversations with parents about whether their camps are the right fit for their children.
As the pandemic recedes, many camps are implementing additional mental health support. Some have care teams that regularly discuss the dynamics between bunkmates, while others set aside time and space for video therapy sessions. Many camps have also created full-time staff positions focused solely on mental health.
For NJY Camps, that person is Heather Klein. With 15 years of experience at NJY, Klein now focuses on mental health issues year-round, thanks to funding from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. Spending a day with Klein provides insight into the challenging balancing act she faces.
At 7:23 a.m., Klein received the photo of the self-harm wounds. Recognizing the seriousness, she quickly assessed the situation, speaking with the counselor and arranging for the teenager to be picked up by a family member. Although it was a difficult decision, the camp’s policy dictated that campers engaged in self-harm must be sent home.
Throughout the day, Klein dealt with the typical camp issues such as conflicts between campers, rule violations, and medication administration. Approximately 20% of the 2,200 campers at NJY camps take medication for ADHD, while 15% take medication for anxiety and depression. A significant number of campers also meet remotely with therapists during their camp sessions.
Homesickness has always been a part of the camp experience, but in recent years, it has become more acute and challenging to manage. Constant communication between parents and children may contribute to this, as parents are less likely to trust camp staff to help their children work through homesickness. In 2021, NJY camps sent home a record number of children due to homesickness or anxiety, leading to the creation of Klein’s position.
Klein spent time trying to convince a distressed girl’s mother to allow her to stay at camp, explaining the concept of using “struggle muscles” and facing challenges. Ultimately, the mother decided to pick up her daughter the next day. Throughout the day, Klein dealt with various situations and challenges, using her expertise and compassion to address each one.
In the end, Heather Klein’s role as a mental-health coordinator involves managing the complexities of youth mental health issues at summer camp. With an increasing number of campers arriving with mental health concerns, her job has become even more crucial, as she works tirelessly to ensure the well-being of campers and provide the necessary support to both campers and their parents.