Battling on Front Lines of Mental Health in NJs Public Schools – NJ Spotlight

The numbers are scary. One in five teenagers in the United States is diagnosed with a mental health disorder, yet only half of them receive treatment.

Nationally, one in seven teens have seriously considered suicide, and in New Jersey between 2013-2015, more than 2,700 of them were treated in hospitals for attempted suicide or self-inflicted wounds. Nearly 300 took their lives in that time.

Faced with those stark realities, a task force of educators and health care professionals this week released a report on the state of mental health services in New Jersey public schools. The task force was convened in the aftermath of the latest school shootings plaguing the country. Its members had a lot to say.

The report commissioned by the New Jersey School Boards Association made 71 recommendations, ranging from prevention to intervention to response and included topics like the role of families and social media.

The underlying message was that while schools cannot be the only place to address these challenges, they still have a long way to go. At the same time, the report contained few recommendations about increased staff or funding.

One of its lead authors said in an interview that it was less about statewide policies and requirements and more about educating schools and communities.

Ive been at this a long time, and Im thrilled with all the attention that intervention has gotten, said Vincent DeLucia, a director of professional development for the New Jersey School Boards Association.

But we have lagged when it comes to addressing prevention, he said. And Im not just talking with children but with staff as well.

The following are some of the central recommendations of the report, including a few of the more provocative ones:

DeLucia is realistic; a similar task force issued a report in 2015 with more than 100 recommendations. But he said districts and educators are primed to step up at a time that many students are in crisis, as are their communities.

If given the permission and the leadership shows a way, faculty and staff will not only embrace it but I think will take and run with it, he said. They see first hand the benefits.

Go here to see the original:

Battling on Front Lines of Mental Health in NJs Public Schools - NJ Spotlight