(8/22/2024- Westfield) Ahead of students returning to the classroom this fall, the Center for Disease Control released new findings showing worsening mental health among high school aged youth over the last ten years. Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) shares his concerns surrounding this alarming data and calls for continued behavioral health support in schools as he is set to resume his Youth Mental Health Listening Sessions this fall.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey provides a detailed analysis on a variety of health behaviors and experiences of high school aged students across the nation over the last 10 years. Nearly all indicators of poor mental health have worsened from 2013 to 2023 among high school aged students. In 2023, 40% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless. The report also underscores continued health disparities among female and LBTGQ+ students who report higher rates of poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their peers.
“The CDC report really quantified what I have been hearing from local youth, parents, and educators for quite some time- our kids, particularly our teens, are really struggling.” Shared Senator John C. Velis, Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. “As our kids begin the new school year, we cannot forget how our schools are truly a force multiplier in terms of supporting and promoting our kids’ mental health.”
In 2023, Senator Velis was instrumental in creating a Behavioral Health School Pilot Program to enable school counselors and administrators in accessing a specialist hotline for discussing behavioral health issues among students. It was recently announced that the Agawam Public Schools was selected as one of two school districts in Massachusetts where the pilot program would be launched. The creation of the pilot program was generated from feedback Velis received on his listening session tour with local schools over the past few years. Senator Velis will be resuming his Youth Mental Health Listening Session Tour with area schools this fall.
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