Though the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly served to focus public attention on the vital importance of student mental health needs, by no means is the pandemic the proximate cause of what many experts acknowledge as a growing challenge. Indeed, according to the CDC, the number of students experiencing significant mental health challenges has increased an astonishing 40% since 2009*, the effects especially pronounced among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students, as well as among students of color, groups which reported suicidal ideation at alarmingly elevated rates.
If there’s positive news here, it’s that more and more states are not only recognizing and addressing student mental health issues but also are doing so in a way that emphasizes a holistic approach that involves educators, school and community leaders, as well as the students themselves and their families. It’s in this spirit that the Region 5 Comprehensive Center presents the infographic linked here, developed with support from the Stakeholder Collaborative, including members from the West Virginia Department of Education. Though the resource specifically addresses the needs of that state—and very much in the context of West Virginia’s unique identify and sense of itself—it nevertheless identifies issues (for example, a persistent shortage of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists) and potential solutions (for instance, better funding for mental health services and infrastructures throughout the state, particularly in rural areas) that will feel familiar to educators almost everywhere. We encourage you to download the infographic and to use it to reflect on what are your own state’s needs and possible means of addressing or ameliorating them. And, as always, if you have questions the Region 5 team is just a phone call or email away.
* Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm
