SURRY COUNTY, N.C. — An English class at Surry Community College donated art therapy coloring books they made to groups struggling with mental health issues. 

What You Need To Know 

The CDC reports depression and anxiety have increased over time

An English class at Surry Community College donated art therapy coloring books they made to groups struggling with mental health 

Students gave away about 300 books to places like the Crossnore Communities for Children, the Children's Center of Surry and others

Each contains 88 pages of positive images and encouraging affirmations, and they designed the books for an English research project on different types of therapy.

Surry Community College English Professor Dr. Kathleen Fowler said the project was a way to show the impact research can make on communities.

“Why are you doing research? It's not just for a paper, but for a project, and if that project can make an impact on the community, then you can look at it and say, 'oh, this is why we do research,'” Fowler said.

Students gave away about 300 books to places like the Crossnore Communities for Children, the Children's Center of Surry and others.

The CDC reports depression and anxiety have increased over time.

Novant Health Psychiatrist Andrew Farah said how teens spend their screen time could be a contributing factor.

“Teens have it rough. They are bombarded with marketing and screen time, a lot of things they shouldn’t be seeing, and exposed to things their brains just aren’t ready for,” Farah explained.

The Child Behavioral Health Unit is doing its part to provide more access to therapy and other mental services to children.

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