Mental Health in Schools: Trying but Failing

Mental health is a growing topic in today's climate. About 1 in 5 young people between ages 13 and 18 will or are living with a mental illness according to the Iowa Department of Education. The inevitable question is - where is the schools' role in helping kids deal with their mental health issues? Schools have a unique position where interventions and counseling can take place in a safe environment. This is especially true for students who don't have the funds for a therapist. Funding is a problem that many schools in Iowa are facing today, with the state only increasing the budget for schools by about 1% per year, money for mental health services is lacking. Norwalk, in particular, is growing at such a fast rate that money is going towards hiring new teachers and building new schools. While these are great additions to the district, student's mental health, unfortunately, has to take the backseat. This is an unfortunate decision that can be detrimental to how a student performs in and out of class. Even though Norwalk doesn't necessarily have the funding, they are using what they have to help students. For instance, Infinite Campus will flag a student if they are, for example, truant 10 or more days, have continued behavioral problems, or have parents going through a divorce. This allows the advocates to provide assistance for a possibly "at risk" student. Another service Norwalk has added is a school counselor, Mrs. Smith, who can handle most of the student issues and will begin to hold group therapy sessions during Warrior Time. But for students who deal with serious trauma, and need more intense treatment, the school does have one on-site therapist. The only issue with this is that an on-site therapist goes through insurance, and it's possible that not all of the cost is going to be covered - leaving it up to students and families to cover the extra cost. With lack of funding from the state, the district has no room to hire a full-time therapist that would be free for students. The real problem with a lack of mental health services is that - according to statistics - there are approximately 225 students at Norwalk who are suffering. The Iowa Department of Education states that 50% of mental health issues develop at 14, so it makes sense that schools should be at the forefront of helping students learn how to cope with their emotions, but Norwalk, like many other schools in the state, fail students in this area due to lack of funding. It's not just at the high school level. Mrs. Chittenden, the counselor for elementary students, has about 600 students that she is responsible for seeing (if needed) on top of guidance lessons. The American School Counselor Association recommends 3 school therapists for every 250 students, a ratio that Norwalk does not have the funding to meet. Teacher's are not trained in how to help students who suffer from issues like depression and anxiety. Full-time therapists that are free for students are not available on campus. Mental health days are not available for overwhelmed students. Iowa Legislators need to step up and realize that mental illness is an ever prevalent issue that a significant amount of students are dealing with. Iowa Legislators need to prioritize giving schools the resources to support students suffering from mental illness, not only to ensure their academic success but safety. This scary and heartbreaking problem has torn friends and families apart. You're not alone, whatever you're going through. National Suicide Prevention Hotline Call 1-800-273-8255