Latimer: A call to boost mental health support for students

The federal House Resolution 822 is known as the Student Mental Health Helpline Act. This bill is aiming to issue free and confidential services via cell and internet access for students.”

Hope Latimer is a Delaware resident, graduating from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2022. She is seeking a Master of Social Work degree at Temple University, wrapping up her final year focusing on mental health in school-age children.

In our current society, there are a multitude of pressures, from academic performance to social dynamics to personal growth, that have created an unprecedented mental health crisis that demands our attention. Mental health diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression and stress, have been increasing among school-age children. These directly affect students’ academic performance and well-being. Poor mental health also leads to decreased concentration, low academic performance and, in worst-case scenarios, life-threatening actions. This crisis is directly affecting our children, and there is a silent cry for help coming from students across our country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.4 million children aged 3-17 have been diagnosed with anxiety. When a child is struggling in a subject like math, parents would get a tutor, and teachers step in to assist. Why is mental health any different? In today’s society, mental health takes a back seat to socialization and academic achievement, which is undermining our children’s success. Untreated mental health disorders can lead to lifelong damaging effects, such as high dropout rates, substance misuse, high rates of unemployment and even suicide, which is currently the second-leading cause of death among young adults.

Addressing the mental health crisis involves attacking at multiple levels. Education and awareness are a great place to start. Across the country, there are many accredited places where individuals can go to seek this information; however, for children, it should be incorporated into school curriculum. Information on how to handle anxiety should be taught in schools, and students should be empowered to recognize their own mental discomfort and seek help without the stigma that follows. Counseling centers, digital educational platforms and quality mental health professionals should be offered during school hours to assist in providing awareness to students.

There are national programs to assist on demand, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This lifeline provides 24/7 support for individuals in distress and is able to provide resources for you to avoid this level of distress in the future. I propose that, to limit students getting to the point of uncontrollable distress, we need to authorize helplines specifically for students.

The federal House Resolution 822 is known as the Student Mental Health Helpline Act. This bill is aiming to issue free and confidential services via cell and internet access for students. The grant focuses on supporting students who have challenges with bullying, abuse, depression and self-harm. The grant would be awarded to subdivisions of states, governments or tribes that are responsible for education and health. The information that students provide through these helplines would be given to school officials within privacy laws. Schools would then be able to take this information and know what their students are struggling with, without having to meet with individuals on a one-by-one basis. Overall, it would assist schools in addressing problems that are directly affecting their students, rather than receiving general information. From here, schools can also decipher how many students are experiencing mental health crises.

Sometimes, there is just one practitioner per school to work with students. If you have over 300 students experiencing a crisis, however, there is an immediate need for more practitioners.

I encourage you to advocate for the Student Mental Health Helpline Act to recognize the student mental health crisis and assist in the collaboration of creating a supportive ecosystem for students to thrive holistically. Mental health struggles should not be something our students have to face on their own. Investing in students’ mental health is investing in the future of our country. By nurturing the well-being of our students, we are providing them the resilience and resources to succeed in future endeavors.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.