U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff discusses funding for mental health resources at DCSS

Ossoff in Albany

ALBANY, Ga. – As Mental Health Awareness Month continues on, the Dougherty County School System welcomed Senator Jon Ossoff to the 4C Academy today to talk about some new additions to the school system’s staff.

Senator Ossoff, alongside Dougherty County Schools Superintendent, Kenneth Dyer announced future plans for mental healthcare in the school system.

“For every 6,000 school children in Georgia, there is only one counselor available in school. And I know that parents need the sense of safety and security, that if our children are suffering or struggling with mental health issues, that there are resources in schools…” voice of (D) Sen. Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator, Georgia.

The Dougherty County School System has been looking into student’s mental health since 2019, and with additional counselors and staff, they can looking out for a slew of mental issues.

“We just approved a screener. A depression screener for our students, and we’re going to follow that up, for those students who identify with signs of depression with access to resources as the senator mentioned,” said Kenneth Dyer, Superintendent, Dougherty County School System.

But for the sake of the students, and their parents as well, the addition of counselors and staff to help the school system with mental health problems, should ideally help with the overall safety of the student body.

“We take a survey and we do a survey every year, and a vast majority of our students do feel safe at our schools. Some do have some concerns either dealing with physical safety, based on the events that happen throughout our country; and then mental safety, behavioral health issues that cause them to not feel safe to a lesser degree,” said Kenneth Dyer, Superintendent, Dougherty County School System.

“First of all I think we want to be careful to not stigmatize mental health issues. Again, sometimes, just being a young person, growing up is tough. Sometimes there’s stuff going on…” voice of (D) Sen. Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator, Georgia.

With the support of the federal and state governments behind them, the Dougherty County School System is optimistic about their students’ mental health, in spite of everything.

The Dougherty County School System will be hiring 16 behavioral specialists to provide aid to both students and faculty.

Brian Roche reporting.

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