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Can we please have the mental health conversation?
I agree that we are experiencing unprecedented mental health problems in kids right now. I am seeing it in my own home. I am feeling it in my own head and heart. 1/
I agree that we are experiencing unprecedented mental health problems in kids right now. I am seeing it in my own home. I am feeling it in my own head and heart. 1/
My 8th grader (who will remain virtual because my husband has Type 1 diabetes) came to me and said she feels depressed and wanted to talk to a counselor.
It took me ~2 weeks to navigate insurance and probably 50 phone calls to find ONE local provider accepting new patients. 2/
It took me ~2 weeks to navigate insurance and probably 50 phone calls to find ONE local provider accepting new patients. 2/
I cried with frustration. Who can afford to pay $100/hour for counseling? Why do so many not accept our insurance? (Tricare)
Thank goodness my child was not yet in crisis. But I'm not sure it would have mattered. I couldn't figure it out any faster than I did. 3/
Thank goodness my child was not yet in crisis. But I'm not sure it would have mattered. I couldn't figure it out any faster than I did. 3/
My heart breaks knowing that there are kids whose caregivers don't have the resources to navigate the messed up system. Whose kids ARE in crisis right now.
I also want to point out that our schools have struggled to meet the mental health needs of kids before the pandemic. 4/
I also want to point out that our schools have struggled to meet the mental health needs of kids before the pandemic. 4/
When you assign 200+ kids to 1 counselor, you are deluding yourself if you think they can serve them in any meaningful way. Pre-COVID, schools could NOT handle all the needs of kids. Period.
This was known & the goal was always more counselors eventually. But no $$$ for it. 5/
This was known & the goal was always more counselors eventually. But no $$$ for it. 5/
Our counselors are running themselves into the ground. Doing home visits, phone calls, emails, intakes for truancy, and making sure families have a roof over their heads and food to eat. That won't stop just because some kids come into the building. 6/
There is nothing magical about walking in the school doors that will "save" kids who are in crisis. We are not miracle workers.
You think sitting at a desk, alone, masked, quiet, can't play with friends, etc- that is all they need? They'll just turn it all around? 7/
You think sitting at a desk, alone, masked, quiet, can't play with friends, etc- that is all they need? They'll just turn it all around? 7/
We are getting ready to send a tsunami of kids in crisis into our schools, and mark my words, people will IMMEDIATELY blame the schools for not fixing it.
No one wants to talk about how we don't have the training or resources to actually do so. We never have. 8/
No one wants to talk about how we don't have the training or resources to actually do so. We never have. 8/
No one wants to talk about staff close to their limits, themselves near crisis. Teacher mental health isn't even a footnote in the discussion. There are not any additional resources to help us put our own oxygen mask on first.
Because we are not the clients or customers. 9/
Because we are not the clients or customers. 9/
I know more students will return to the buildings soon, and we will all go back to in-person school at some point. I guess I want to how anyone thinks we can possibly do that if we are not given the tools to care for students AND STAFF in the way they deserve. End.
