Mental health needs rising among students

Hays County is considering awarding $200,000 in funding to school districts for mental health related expenses, acknowledging an increased need.

Commissioner Walt Smith brought forth the item to address mental health needs among youth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every one of these school districts is experiencing the same issue, and those issues are complete oversaturation of need,” he said during the Nov. 24 commissioners court meeting.

As schools near the end of the first in-person semester during the pandemic, Wimberley ISD's Director of Student Support Services Amy Lyles recognized there was an increased need for mental health services even before COVID-19.

“There has been an increased demand for mental health support in our schools, in general, and not just students. Staff, parents, families as well, said Lyles, who was hired by WISD in response to an already growing need for mental health services in schools.

“The pandemic has only accentuated or exposed that,” Lyles said. “Schools have done a good job at supporting students, but (students) haven't been here or haven't been here regularly, systems for support were not able to be easily accessed.”

She likened it to anyone seeing a therapist or an agency at the beginning of the pandemic; doors were closed for a while.

“The demand didn't go away, but the supply shut down in schools for months,” Lyles said. “Now we still have limited access to those resources. Some counselors and agencies are still only doing virtual. Some are not taking new clients, some are not seeing clients at all.”

Anxiety and depression in youth has been increasing over time, according to the Centers for Disease Control among children age 6-17 years, those who had ever been diagnosed with anxiety or depression increased from 5.4% in 2003 to 8% in 2007 and to 8.4% in 2011-2012.

Lyles says anxiety and depression are what parents, peers and staff should be on the lookout for.

According to April Chatmon Mustafa, San Marcos Consolidated ISD's director of Social Emotional Learning & Guidance, students and staff have been utilizing services as needed.

“If you have a strong presence, people recognize where to go get help,” Chatmon Mustafa said. “It's about being an open mind and an open ear.”

SMCISD Executive Director of Communications Andrew Fernandez said because of remote learning, the schools don't have as much access to the students as in the past years.

The districts had to reimagine schools and how they support students. Counselors had to meet with families in new ways.

One way was with the Rattler parent check-in, where counselors had set hours when parents and students could predictably access their counselors.

Additionally, by partnering with Communities in Schools, SMCISD is able to provide case management for students and families on an individual level, with social workers or licensed professional counselors.

The district has also been in with supporting staff as well.

“Teachers are doing a lot,” Fernandez said. “Their jobs are hard enough. The superintendent has purchased lunch for all staff twice this school year, and we had three early release dates ... to clean the campus and to give staff some time to catch up on day to day duties.”

SMCISD also provides mental health training for families and mindfulness strategies to students. They also have the Rattler tip line, where anyone can submit a tip if they see a student that needs more support.

Due to the rise in mental health issues, WISD had already planned six separate trainings in mental health. Every teacher was trained in suicide prevention protocol and trauma informed practices, and they initiated their mental health initiative; social and emotional learning.

Lyles said they would use any funding from the county to hire a licensed professional to help with increased needs. They recently hired someone to staff the wellness center at the high school who can be available on a daily basis to help with the counselors.

Kim Bird a Mental Health Professional at Dripping Springs ISD middle schools said, "The focus on children's mental health was made a priority in 2018 when DSISD initiated our Mental Health Initiative. This project brought together community members, parents and school personnel to examine the spe cific needs of our community and how we can address gaps in mental health services. As a result of this partnership between the school district and the community, we have hired mental health professionals who provide services inside our schools to our students that may not otherwise be served due to gaps in mental health service in our community. We are working tirelessly to support our remote learners as well as our in-person learners to build meaningful relationships and assist them in navigating the isolation and fears that this pandemic has inevitably created for so many. We know that school and relationships with teachers tend to be a stabilizing force in the lives of kids, so we want to make sure they continue to feel a connection to their teachers and a sense of belonging to their campus communities."

Chatmon Mustafa said one of the biggest things people can do as mental health needs rise is to show empathy and grace.

“Being able to show empathy to others, and allow yourself some grace,” Chatmon Mustafa said. “Grace is so important in a time like this. Allow yourself some grace and extend that grace to others.

“We still have to work on destigmatizing getting help ... It's more common than we think, more brave than we think,” Lyles added. “It's not a reflection of weakness, it's strength to be there for someone, it goes both ways. You could need it too.”