GREENSBORO, N.C. — More North Carolina students are struggling with mental health, and educators hope a grant to increase mental health resources in schools can change that.
What You Need To Know
An NCDPI report revealed that in 2021, more North Carolina students reported struggling with mental health
The U.S. Department of Education is issuing grants to address mental health needs of students by adding resources in schools
According to a release from Guilford County Schools, the district is getting a grant for almost $15 million over a five-year period
A recently-released report from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction revealed that in 2021, more students across the state reported feeling alone, feeling bad about themselves and seriously considering suicide than in previous years. The U.S. Department of Education is issuing grants to address mental health needs of students and add more support in schools. According to a release from Guilford County Schools, the district is getting a grant for almost $15 million over a five-year period, which will be used to add more mental health resources in 61 of its schools.
Western Guilford High School Principal Greg Newlin said he’s glad that mental health is being recognized and is looking forward to providing more resources to students through the grant.
“We’ll be able to touch more lives and have more therapists virtually, but then we’ll also have dedicated personnel in the buildings,” Newlin said.
Western Guilford High School counselor Amber Steele sees students’ victories and struggles. She said each counselor in her school sees nearly 300 students, and the results of the NCDPI report were alarming.
“With such a high caseload, it’s hard for us to spend the time we want to with every single student,” Steele said.
She said the grant will get more licensed therapists in Guilford County schools and help address that strain. According to the district, the goal is to create 16 new positions over the five-year time frame. Newlin said every addition will make a difference in students’ lives.
“Like in so many businesses, we’re stretched thin. People do a lot of different jobs, and these kinds of additional supports that get poured into our kids are huge. Bigger than most people think,” Newlin said.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction also applied for and received its own School-Based Mental Health Services Grant for approximately $17 million. Those funds will go to a selection of school districts across the state to help address the mental health needs of North Carolina students.