Dougherty County School System discusses future of students’ mental health
Lending students an ear
ALBANY, Ga. – After seeing more than 500 students within a school year, the Dougherty County School System is looking to improve access to mental healthcare for their student body.
Dougherty County School Superintendent, Kenneth Dyer says that even before the pandemic took school virtual in 2020, the mental health of students in Dougherty county was becoming an issue.
“Since the pandemic, and even before the pandemic, we saw an increase of mental health issues and challenges with school-age children, nationwide, not just here in the Dougherty County School system or the state of Georgia. And since the pandemic we have seen a greater amount of those incidents,” said Dyer.
While they’re receiving help at the federal and state level, Dougherty county knows this is a job that can’t be done alone…
“…And most recently we’ve been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of 50 million dollars over five years to provide additional behavioral health services, contracted services, as well as leading to hire 16 additional behavior health specialists,” said Dyer.
But…that also hasn’t stopped the school system from partnering with groups within the county like Albany Area Primary Health Care who have been meeting with students since 2019…and know that meeting in person has a greater impact.
“…We did also try to do virtual visits with the kids to keep them in care. But again that is not always the same as sometimes kids who just need that face-to-face with a counselor or therapist,” said Clifton Bush, COO, Albany Area Primary Health Care.
In addition to hiring more behavioral specialists down the road, the school system and their partners are going to be offering resources for parents as well…
In the hopes of ending any stigma that mental health shouldn’t be taken seriously.
“It is not a joke. So any time that you feel sense that your kid might be in danger with some kind of mental health; please look into it…” said Bush.
“In some areas of our community, there’s still a stigma to talk about mental health challenges and behavioral health issues. But those challenges are becoming more and more prevalent, and we can’t deny that it’s an issue,” said Dyer.
While the current school year is coming to a close, the Dougherty County School System and their partners are committed to keeping their students in the right headspace.
The Dougherty County School System would like everyone to know as well that if you or someone you know is suffering from mental health issues that could lead to harm to dial 9-8-8.
Brian Roche reporting.
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