Mental health experts say this winter may be especially difficult for people who have lost homes or loved ones in the eastern Kentucky floods, and those who are rebuilding after last year's deadly tornadoes in the western part of the state.
Marcie Timmerman, executive director of Mental Health America of Kentucky, said the increased stress on families during the holidays and winter blues could set the stage for seasonal depression.
"We've been through pandemics, tornadoes and flooding, right? We've lost homes, we've lost things. We may have lost people we love. We lost places that we love."
The University of Kentucky reports more students seeking help for mental health issues on campus.
Timmerman noted Mental Health America has an online screening tool, which can be used at home to gauge depression risk.
She pointed out screening for depression increases the chance of getting treatment. Research shows many primary care physicians fail to recognize depression, especially in patients of color.
If you, or someone you know, are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Timmerman explained seasonal affective disorder is often affiliated with a lack of sunlight and decreased vitamin D levels. She emphasized it is important to pay attention to warning signs, including sadness, lack of energy and oversleeping.
"If you're crying every day for say, seven to 14 days, and it's impacting your work, or your school or your everyday life, that's really an indicator that you need to get some help," Timmerman advised.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 3% of Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder, but the number jumps to around 10% in parts of the country with longer winters.
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As the school year begins, experts are advising schools on how to preserve students' mental health but politics in states such as Wyoming limit policies that could help.
The youth suicide rate in Wyoming is increasing and has led the national rate for at least the past decade, according to Wyoming Department of Health data. Experts said K-12 schools can be good points of contact for student mental health but there are barriers for schools.
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, is on the state's Mental Health Task Force and said suicide prevention and mental health treatment can be challenging in rural areas.
"Just due to our lack of population and the rural nature, it's really tough to recruit and find individuals in this space to come in and work with the kids in many of our areas," Zwonitzer pointed out.
He and other members of the state Legislature tried to change it this year with House Bill 119, which would have made funding available for school districts to supply additional mental health providers for students. In a break from typical practice for interim session bills, it was voted down for introduction to the House.
Gov. Mark Gordon has prioritized the expansion of mental health services while in office. But Zwonitzer pointed out there is a lot of ideological diversity across the state.
"There's just a large segment of Wyoming, at least in their legislative representatives, don't believe that we need to be spending more money for the schools to deal with mental health challenges; that should be in the churches or nonprofits or within the family," Zwonitzer explained.
Zwonitzer and experts agreed schools are a critical place to identify student mental health problems or patterns.
A school checklist from the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable includes age-appropriate mental health education for students, engagement with families and community partners and a recommended professional ratio of one social worker and one counselor for every 250 students.
Caitlin Hochul, vice president of public policy for Inseparable, said schools provide the best opportunity to reach students in need of help.
"When we talk about access issues, we know that most kids are not receiving the care that they need. Schools are such a critical component to improving youth mental health because that is where students spend most of their time."
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Columbia County, New York, is developing a new center to help people with mental illness and substance use disorder.
The Wellness Hub stems from a county study showing the best ways to fill gaps in care for people. It will provide emergency housing for people with mental health and substance use disorders.
Cheryl Roberts, executive director of the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, said not many places offer services for populations in need.
"A lot of the emergency housing is nothing more than motels that are often located far from services," Roberts pointed out. "No food in the area, no other services, and that's the case in Columbia County. There's one hotel that provides services, but most do not."
The hub will have a ground flood-safe haven shelter with 25 single-room occupancy units. The hub will also have 35 units of permanent supportive housing and up to 14 120-day supportive housing units staffed with clinicians. Additional funding would be spent on a welcome center with space for peer-support services, a commercial kitchen to train people in culinary arts and other amenities for homeless people in the area not staying at the hub.
Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The hub has become more necessary since the pandemic exacerbated mental health issues and homelessness. Roberts notes the Wellness Hub will work hand-in-hand with the county's mental health court. She said the 35 units of permanent housing can provide added resources for people in the criminal justice system.
"Half of it will be set aside for people with serious mental illness," Roberts outlined. "A quarter of it will be for people who are justice-involved, so coming out of incarceration or may be in the midst of the justice process where they might be taking a plea in the treatment court and being required to follow a treatment protocol."
One of the biggest challenges for maintaining the Wellness Hub is the ongoing shortage of mental health professionals. Reports show the number of New Yorkers with a mental illness has grown since the pandemic. The Health Resources and Services Administration found there are 192 designated mental health professional shortage areas, leaving more than 3.5 million people without access to mental health services.
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Transitioning back to school can bring as much stress as excitement for many students and a new checklist created by the group Inseparable aims to help parents and educators ensure children are getting the mental health care they need.
Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, said it is important for services to be available where children spend the biggest part of their day.
"They are more likely to participate in a mental health assessment or intervention at school than they are outside of school," Jenet pointed out.
Half of students between the ages of 12 and 17 experiencing depression are not getting treatment, due to stigma, cost, transportation and other barriers. The checklist includes training teachers and staff in mental health, substance use and suicide prevention; the ratio of on-site mental health professionals to students; regular mental wellness check-ins; teaching kids relationship and other life skills, and mental health literacy.
Colorado lawmakers recently passed House Bill 1406, which creates a new School-Based Mental Health Support Program expected to serve up to 400 public schools by the start of the 2027-28 school year.
Matt Holtman, children and youth intergovernmental liaison for the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, said the program will emphasize supporting rural schools and other areas where students do not have equitable access to mental health care.
"That includes classroom-based mental health wellness and resiliency, a cognitive behavioral and mindfulness skill building training," Holtman outlined. "Also resources and training for the schools to manage suicide risk and coordinate care."
Jenet pointed to Colorado's I Matter program as another option for parents and educators. After filling out a short online survey, students can access free therapy sessions. Because children are more willing to open up to people who understand their situation, she added it is important for schools to recruit mental health professionals reflecting the state's diverse residents.
"I had an African American mom who reached out to me in crisis," Jenet recounted. "I suggested she try the I Matter program, and she was able to get therapy that evening for her child from an African American therapist. And that meant a lot to their family."
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