Monroe County schools update mental health services

Sep. 30--For many students, returning to school has been a significant adjustment.

Rather than chitchatting on school buses, students are much quieter behind their masks. Instead of enjoying lunch with peers in the cafeteria, many eat while socially-distanced in their classrooms. Students are sharing hand sanitizer, not swapping colored pencils.

The impact has left some students starving for social connection -- a new barrier to youth mental health services in Monroe County.

While the Monroe County Intermediate School District (MCISD) already has offered mental health services to the area's public schools, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered professionals' access to potentially struggling students, along with changed the types of support students are craving.

With reduced numbers of students on buses and in classrooms as a result of remote learning and social distancing requirements, student conflict has greatly reduced, according to the MCISD Mental Health Services Team, but now students are lacking meaningful social interaction and emotional regulation.

"Discipline is down, but social-emotional (issues) are through the roof," said Mandy LaRoy, MCISD mental health consultant. "The kids are really struggling with the lack of socialization...

"There's so much more craving connection. It's been really intense. It's about teaching how to build connections during this time of social distancing."

LaRoy is among two new hires for the MCISD's mental health services team, a result of shifted responsibilities and the need for more support, both as a result of the pandemic and changing landscape of K-12 education.

Ryan Nelson also recently has assumed the role of mental health consultant, joining Danielle Handler who has been part of the team since the 2019-2020 school year.

Margot Lechlak, a former consultant, has replaced Jean Foster, who advanced to a new position, as MCISD's mental health coordinator.

"The expansion of our team allows us to better address the gaps and barriers of mental health in schools," Lechlak told The Monroe News this week.

Pre-pandemic, the mental health team's heavily focused on professional development for teachers and staff to better support student mental health needs, Lechlak explained. For the 2020-21 school year, the priority has shifted to addressing missing pieces in county mental health services.

To support that goal, Lechlak said the MCISD is assisting local districts in implementing universal mental health screening for youth. In some cases, the screening process takes place daily, with quick questions asking how students are feeling on a given day, she said.

Incremental online surveys also allow districts to evaluate the value of programs and services. Not only does the process help mental health professionals work on effectively communicating with students, it helps to identify youth in need of additional support, Lechlak said.

While consultants previously would spend physical time in school buildings, COVID-19 has shifted some face-to-face intervention with prerecorded resources or virtual mediation.

"Our access to kids is very different," Lechlak explained. "Our team as a whole is not tied to a specific school, so accessing students relies on referral... But when we rely on teacher referrals, we are limiting our reach."

Along with implementing frequent health screenings, the MCISD also has launched a program called TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) to Wellness, geared toward high school students.

The program, which addresses students in small, socially-distanced groups, emphasizes emotional resiliency and stress management through targeted social-emotional curriculum.

The team also plans to reach high schoolers through social media, perhaps through a TikTok challenge.

"This is exciting because it continues the continuity of care in Monroe County," Nelson said. "These kids are learning how to handle their emotions and manage stress and anxiety even before professional intervention is needed."

___

(c)2020 Monroe News, Mich.

Visit Monroe News, Mich. at http://www.monroenews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.