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Florida picks up the pieces after Hurricane Milton; Georgia elected officials say Hurricane Helene was a climate change wake-up call; Hosiers are getting better civic education; the Senate could flip to the GOP in November; New Mexico postal vans go electric; and Nebraska voters debate school vouchers.

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Civil rights groups push for a voter registration deadline extension in Georgia, federal workers helping in hurricane recovery face misinformation and threats of violence, and Brown University rejects student divestment demands.

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Hurricane Helene has some rural North Carolina towns worried larger communities might get more attention, mixed feelings about ranked choice voting on the Oregon ballot next month, and New York farmers earn money feeding school kids.

UT struggles with mental health; school-based services could help

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Monday, September 9, 2024   

School is back in session across Utah and mental health advocates want to ensure children and parents can access adequate school-based services.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five children and adolescents experiences mental health challenges during their school years.

Laura Summers, director of industry research at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, which released the Utah Behavioral Health Master Plan earlier this year, said one of the seven strategic priorities of the plan is to "strengthen behavioral health prevention and early intervention," which she contended encompasses school-based mental health services.

"We rank really high on different behavioral-health and mental health indicators," Summers pointed out. "We definitely have a growing problem in our state. But it not only helps get ahead in those needs in terms of that promotion and prevention aspect, but it really helps reducing stigma around mental health and building that resiliency and emotional flexibility among students, among our youths as well."

Summers argued having impactful mental health resources available in communities can have a positive ripple effect. The Gardner Institute found more than half of Utah's youths do not receive necessary services or care. Research shows students are more likely to seek counseling when their school provides those services.

Caitlin Hochul, vice president of public policy for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, encouraged school leaders to ensure teachers, staff and children are all aware of the importance of mental health to improve what she called "mental literacy," to mitigate crisis response and cultivate a culture of prevention.

"We do know that when you identify a mental health condition early, you have a better chance for better outcomes," Hochul emphasized. "We help make sure kids are receiving the care they need, before they experience a mental health emergency or a life-threatening crisis."

Hochul added Inseperable has created a back-to-school Mental Health Checklist to offer families a snapshot of the services schools can and should offer. She encouraged parents to look at the list and evaluate their children's school. If the school is not meeting the requirements, she urged parents to talk with community members and contact local officials.

Disclosure: Inseparable contributes to our fund for reporting on Criminal Justice, Health Issues, Mental Health, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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