OPINION: Prioritizing mental health in the classroom and beyond
Whether your child is just starting kindergarten or heading off to college, back to school season is an emotional time of year for parents and students alike. As a mom, I know the feeling all too well. Saying goodbye to my daughter on college move-in day was just as hard as it was to drop her off on her first day of kindergarten. But for our kids, the end of summer and the beginning of another school year often means having to adjust to an unfamiliar or new environment – which can lead to increased mental health challenges.
According to the CDC, about 40% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless last year. Nearly 27% seriously considered attempting suicide. While these trends have improved slightly since the pandemic, they are no less worrisome. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness and expand access to mental health resources for our students.
I’ve supported legislation to address this problem from different angles. First, we have to make sure that our students know the signs and symptoms of mental illness and give them the tools to proactively manage their emotions. That includes spreading the word about available resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, as well as on-campus mental health services. On the legislative front, I’ve championed bills like the Mental Health in Schools Act, which would help schools develop mental health education programs, and the Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act to specifically address the stigma and unique challenges that our Latino students face.
But knowing how and when to get help is just one part of the equation. We need to put more providers on school campuses, and in doing so, build a diverse and dynamic mental health workforce that can meet students where they are most comfortable. For my part, I’m advocating for legislation to deliver debt relief for mental health professionals and support folks from minority communities who pursue careers in mental health. I have also pushed for more funding to help school-based health centers hire and retain more providers.
Finally, it’s important that we give educators the training they need to guide students in the right direction when it comes to mental health. I introduced a bipartisan bill, the Trauma Informed Schools Act, which would train teachers and staff on how to help students who have lived through adverse and potentially traumatic experiences, and I will continue urging my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
I’ve said this many times before, but tackling mental health issues early on is the best way to ensure that our young people go on to live happy, successful, and fulfilling lives. There is still a lot of work to do. But as Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, I’m proud to be a leader in the fight to ensure every student has access to affordable mental health care.
If you or a loved one is heading back to school, please know that there are mental health resources available. Most colleges and universities have on-campus mental health providers who offer services – sometimes at no or low cost – to enrolled students. I encourage you to contact your college or university’s student health center to learn more. You can also visit samhsa.gov/find-help to find treatment near you. As always, if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 9-8-8 for 24/7, free and confidential support.
This editorial was written by Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) for Pamplin Media Group. It published on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.