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My professional perspective is as a High School Guidance Counselor.  With a bachelor's degree in Psychology from UT and coursework in guidance and school counseling from Angelo State University, implementing mental health programs in schools, is a topic I have significant interest in.

This presentation is to create awareness among educators of the mental health crisis in school age children.  It is also to show key role educators can play in helping students with these issues by showing them the benefits of implementing mental health programs in schools.

Having a son with extreme mental health issues, this topic is a passion of mine.  I have personally experienced the disconnect from schools (even counselors) when mental health issues are brought up. Unfortunately, students needing mental health services are on the rise.  Implementing mental health programs in schools give many children the chance to receive services  they would not otherwise have access to.  Positive mental health has great impacts on academic performance and decreases behavioral issues.  This is something every educator can get behind!

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http://www.laniervikings.org/?PageName=%27Guidance%27
My interview was with Lanier High school Lead counselor, Julia Romero.  Romero has been a counselor at Lanier for 8 years and is currently the counselor for grades 10-12.

1.  Romero feels mental health programs in schools plays an important role in the overall well-being of the students.  Julia notes these programs are especially important to Lanier because of its high number of low income students.  Lanier offers many programs in school to aid students with mental health issues including 5 school counselors, a school based mental-health counselor, and a social worker and school psychologist that is shared with the vertical team.

2.  Romero has many great tips for driving mental health wellness in schools:

The first, and easiest, is just to be available for your students.  Make sure they know they can come to you.

If there is concern about a student, "ASK a student if they are having suicidal thoughts".  Don't be afraid to address the issue.

Have a referral system for teachers and admin to send students who they feel may need services.  She explained that Lanier has weekly support team meetings to discuss the "neediest students".

Advertise mental health  services through all avenues.  Lanier uses their daily homeroom, advisory, and the newsletter to drive student awareness of mental health programs.

3.  Over the years, Romero has seen an overall increase in mental health issues.  Specifically, she has seen a significant increase in anxiety and suicidal outcries.  Julia feels that while Lanier has programs to try to help even the neediest of students,  more help is needed, and it will be interesting to see what future laws will do to drive mental health in schools.

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Slide #3:  Professional Association:  National Council for Behavioral Health

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Slide #3:  Professional Association:  National Council for Behavioral Health

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The National Council for Behavioral Health (n.d.) provides a pamphlet explaining the benefits of the Mental Health in Schools Act.  It explains how the act "strengthens partnerships between local education and community programs" (National Council for Behavioral Health, n.d., para. 2).  It also goes into detail about why this act is important.  The National Council for Behavioral Health point out the barriers mental health and substance abuse issues cause in normal, positive academic and social development.  The article stresses that this act is a positive investment in children's future.

Reference
National Council for Behavioral Health. (n.d.).  Mental health in schools act (S. 1370/H.R. 2913).  Retrieved from https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Mental-Health-in-Schools-Act-FINAL.pdf

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Slide #4:  Current New Article:  "Why principals need to make student mental health a priority"

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Slide #4:  Current New Article:  "Why principals need to make student mental health a priority"

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The article "Why principals need to make student mental health a priority" (Prothero, 2018) describes the major mental health crisis facing our country today and the approach one school district took.  Prothero goes into detail in the article explaining:

After 3 student suicides in a suburban area of Los Angeles, mental health awareness became a major issue for the principals of the schools these children had attended.

The rise in mental health needs among adolescents has been significant.

The proposed solution is a three tiered mental health program focusing on mental health support starting in kindergarten.

Support would be tiered from intervention and coping skills at tier 1 to more advanced mental health professionals for those with advanced issues.

The goal is to create awareness so students know how to reach out for help.

Reference
Prothero, A.  (2018 Oct 16).  Why principals need to make student mental health a priority.  Education Week.  Retreived from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/10/17/why-principals-need-to-make-student-mental.html?print=1

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Slide #5:  Current News Article:  "Are Schools Ready to Tackle the Mental Health Crisis?"

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Slide #5:  Current News Article:  "Are Schools Ready to Tackle the Mental Health Crisis?"

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The article “Are schools ready to tackle the mental health crisis?” (Walker, 2018) explains the mental health crisis the nation is facing and the interventions that need to be happening in schools.  In the article Walker explains:

Schools are not yet equipped to handle the severity of the mental health crisis.  Of students age 13-18, 10 million need mental health care.

Much of the mental health care in schools is in response to school shootings as opposed to preventative.

Students receiving positive behavioral health interventions see improvements academically, in time-management, in behavior, problem-solving skills, and increased attendance.

In spite of positive outcomes, comprehensive mental health programs are still not mandated throughout the country.  Funding and proper utilization of staffing cripple the progress of programs that exist.

There needs to be a mental shift among educators to realize that mental health is a major part of the educational system.

Progress is happening as communities are starting to think about mental health.

Reference

Walker, T. (2018 Sep 13).  Are schools ready to tackle the mental health crisis?  Nea Today.  Retreived from http://neatoday.org/2018/09/13/mental-health-in-schools/

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Mental Health in School Act of 2017, H.R. 2913, 115th Cong. (2017)
Statutory Law

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2913/text?r=36

"To amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and violence to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs.”  The Mental Health Service Act is an act by Congress that put priority on mental health programs in schools to address trauma and mental health issues.

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Tex. Health and Safety Code § 161.325
Statutory Law

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.161.htm

Mandates that Texas Health and Safety in collaboration with TEA will provide districts with researched and evidence-based programs to improve mental health in schools.  Trainings must include strategies for mental health issues and suicide prevention across teachers in all grade levels.

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Tex. H.B. 1069, 86th Leg., (2019)
Statutory Law

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/html/HB01069I.htm

Taking effect December 1, 2019, HB 1069 outlines training requirements for teachers regarding mental health.  It includes objectives for schools including specifying training in positive behavior intervention, suicide prevention, and grief counseling programs.  It puts more focus on mental health awareness in schools identifying students with mental health in “diverse populations”.

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Tex. Educ. Code § 21.044
Statutory Law

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm

Tex. Educ. Code § 21.044 mandates educators required to hold a bachelor’s degree must also undergo training in intervention regarding “mental health, substance abuse, and youth suicide.”  Educators must partake in a training outlined in Texas Health and Safety § 161.325.  Their training must include both positive behavior strategies and de-escalation strategies regarding mental health.

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The AISD student handbook outlines resources if a student seems suicidal or is in need of mental health care.  Furthermore, it directs students to speak to the school counselor for further resources.

This further points to the responsibility of the school counselor implementing mental health awareness in school, as the handbook lists him/her as the key contact person.

Reference
Austin Independent School District. (2018).  Student Handbook, Suicide awareness and mental health support. Retrieved from https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/students/Student-Handbook-2018-web.pdf

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The ASCA ethical standard A.1.b explains that school counselors have an obligattion to students to "Aim to provide counseling to students in a brief context and support students and families/guardians in obtaining outside services if the student needs long-term clinical counseling."  (ASCA, 2016)

Counselors, very often, are the first point of contact when a student is facing a mental health issue.  It is important that they are able to provide some relief to the students emotional needs, but also be able to identify when further counseling and help is needed.

Reference
American School Counselor Association. (2016).  ASCA Ethical standards for school

counselors.  Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf

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The Texas PTA (n.d.) created a flyer promoting  the importance of the mental health in schools for the 86th legislative session.  The Texas PTA outlines the high need of mental health care in schools by noting staggering statistics of how many students in Texas are identified with mental health needs.   It stresses how "fully implement(ed)  comprehensive school counseling programs" (Texas PTA, n.d., para. 8) effect academic achievement, increase safe feelings, increase attendance, and decrease disciplinary rates.

Reference
Texas PTA. (n.d.) 86th Legislative session Texas PTA Legislative priority.  Retrieved from  https://www.txpta.org/uploads/filemanager/Rally_Day/Legislative%20Priority%20-%20Mental%20Health.pdf

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Slide #13:  Recommendations/Best Practices for Compliance

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Slide #13:  Recommendations/Best Practices for Compliance

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The entire staff can help in driving mental health awareness.  From the hallways to the classroom every person in a school can have an impact on the students (Romero, 2019).

TEA provides mental health based lessons that must be utilized).  (Tex. Health and Safety Code § 161.325)

Attend Professional Developments (PD)-Every PD should consist of at least one mental health activity teachers can utilize.

Utilize mental health activities in the classroom.  Positive behavioral interventions are proven successes. (Walker, 2018)

Support each other.  Educators need mental health support too.  Being at one's personal best, allows one to better support the students' mental health.

Lobby for  more mental health interventions.  Laws promoting mental health in schools are relatively new (Walker, 2018).  Educators need to be the driving force.

Utilize resources as effectively as possible.  Make sure those qualified to assist with mental health issues are available to do so, and that they are not tied up doing other tasks (Prothero, 2018).

Participate in community education and break the stigma of mental health problems.

Create an open dialogue to educate students of where to seek help when they need it (Prothero, 2018).

Never be to busy to listen to a student who may be in crisis (Romero, 2019).

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Prothero, A.  (2018 Oct 16).  Why principals need to make student mental health a priority.  Education Week.  Retreived from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/10/17/why-principals-need-to-make-student-mental.html?print=1

Romero, J. (2019 Jul 17). Personal interview with L. Covin-Palomo.

Tex. Health and Safety Code § 161.325

Walker, T. (2018 Sep 13).  Are schools ready to tackle the mental health crisis?  Nea Today.  Retreived from http://neatoday.org/2018/09/13/mental-health-in-schools/