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Health and Wellness

Student and teacher talking in Brebeuf Jesuit Cafeteria

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School strives to build a healthier school community through the promotion of wellness in mind, body, and spirit. 

One of the core values of a Brebeuf Jesuit education is cura personalis, or care of the whole person. To this end, we provide comprehensive programming, peer education, and co-curricular opportunities to support our students' physical and emotional wellbeing. Students will feel empowered to lead balanced lives by taking control of their own health and wellness. 

Mental Health at Brebeuf Jesuit

school social worker

Libby Pollak is a Master's level social worker available to assist students in managing challenges. Mrs. Pollak is able to assess depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, etc., and is available to see students for occasional crises or ongoing support during difficult times. If sessions with an outside counselor are needed, the School Social Worker offers help to families in finding a good match with a community professional.

Learn more about Mrs. Pollak and mental health resources at Brebeuf Jesuit.

School Counseling

Brebeuf ’s School Counselors are all accredited as Nationally Certified Counselors (NCC) and have been distinguished by the American School Counselor Association as coordinators of a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). During their time at Brebeuf Jesuit, each student is assigned to one of our five School Counselors, who provide our students with:

  • Academic planning and support
  • Social-emotional counseling
  • Whole-person development

Learn more about School Counseling at Brebeuf Jesuit. 

Physical Health at Brebeuf Jesuit

Physical education provides Brebeuf students the opportunity to develop healthy habits, experience community with their peers, and challenge themselves for a lifetime of wellness and health literacy. All students are required to take two semesters of Physical Education and one semester of Health Education in order to graduate. Beyond these required courses, students have the option to participate in elective PE courses such as Tae Kwon Do, Strength and Conditioning, Basic Yoga, and Games with Nets, among others. 

Additionally, students have 30+ co-curricular sports to choose from, including volleyball, cross country, soccer, tennis, and more. Participating in a sport may replace one semester of Physical Education, should students wish. 

Learn more about Athletics at Brebeuf Jesuit.

Spiritual Health at Brebeuf Jesuit

Brebeuf Jesuit's Campus Ministry Office brings prayer, a relationship with God, and communion with others alive in the lives of our students. As students grow and struggle with their faith, their relationship with God, their faith tradition, and issues of concern, campus ministers are available to talk through those times of change and growth. 

Additionally, Brebeuf offers a number of retreats designed to give students at each grade level opportunities to develop spiritually by recognizing God in the people and events of their lives. Retreats provide time and space for quiet prayer, peer leadership, music, student presentations, journaling, recreation, small and large group discussions, and sharing.

Learn more about spiritual life at Brebeuf Jesuit. 

Mindfulness at Brebeuf Jesuit

Mindfulness means intentionally paying attention to the present moment experience inside yourself, your mind and body, and your environment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, kindness, and care. As a natural extension of Brebeuf's holistic approach to education, we offer elective DBT Mindfulness courses to our students. These courses teach students stress reduction, emotional regulation, compassion, responsibility, and awareness - skills that are integral to a balanced life both in- and outside the classroom.

Michelle Martin, Director of Mindfulness at Brebeuf, brings a wealth of knowledge to her work with students, faculty, and staff, having completed a 200-hour certification in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction for Teens, Mindfulness for Student Athletes, and Positive Neuroplasticity Training through the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. 

Learn more about Mindfulness at Brebeuf Jesuit.

Who to Call

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call: 988
Text: 'START' to 678678

Human Trafficking

Call: 1-888-373-7888
Text: 'HELP' or 'INFO' to 233733

Sexual Assault Hotline

Call: 1-800-656-4673
Text: 'HOME' to 741741

Domestic Violence

Call: 1-800-799-7233
Text: 'START' to 88788

Teen Dating Abuse

Call: 1-800-799-7233
Text: 'LOVEIS' to 22522

Crisis Text Line

Text: 'IN' to 741741


The School Social Worker is available for phone/email consultation or in-person meetings with parents related to concerns about their child. Additionally, a variety of student-led support groups are offered.

Request a Meeting

Depression Education

Erika’s Lighthouse is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about teen depression. Each year, School Social Worker Libby Pollak presents depression education to all Brebeuf students using a curriculum provided by Erika’s Lighthouse. The goal is to create an environment where our students feel comfortable discussing mental health issues and empowered to ask for help for themselves or a friend if they need to. By graduation, Brebeuf students should all be familiar with depression symptoms and treatments, the resources available to them, and ways to practice, support, and promote good mental health through positive coping skills.