Mental health experts at West Virginia University will use more than $5 million in federal grant funds to increase the number of mental health providers in West Virginia schools for anxiety and loneliness.
(WVU photo/Brian Persinger)
mental health specialists based in West Virginia University School of Applied Humanities It will soon be entering public schools in parts of the mountain region in an effort to address a significant and growing mental health need among children.
Assistant Professor and Program Leader Rawn Boulden, Associate Professor and University Faculty Ombudsman Christine Schimmel and Associate Professor and Interim Vice Chancellor Kim Floyd — all in the Faculty of Counseling and Wellbeing — will guide the rollout of a new program, beginning with Harrison County, aimed at providing West Virginia schools have more counselors.
Over the next five years, the US Department of Education will award $5.2 million to fund the Mountaineer School-Based Mental Health Fellows Program.
“West Virginia is one of the nation’s leaders in adverse childhood experiences,” Bolden said. “Add to that a global pandemic, pervasive racial tensions, and other challenges to youth mental health, and you’re taking an already existing mental health crisis to the next level. We’re currently seeing reports of suicidal ideation, depression, and Anxiety and loneliness are on the rise in children. Nearly half of high school students report feeling sad more than half the time, and teen hospitalizations are soaring.”
Bolden said that while the shortage of mental health providers in schools and communities is “serious” and growing everywhere, the Health Resources and Services Administration has determined that Harrison County is one of the most in-need counties in the state, which is The reason why the team will start working there.
“Harrison County’s school counselor-to-student ratio is one counselor per 348 students, school psychologists work at a ratio of 1:1,440, and the county’s social workers have one counselor per 10,086 students ,” Bolden said.
The fellows program will address these shortages by placing six senior counseling program graduate students from West Virginia University in Harrison County schools each year. They will work in the school system during their studies and for two years after graduation as part of their built-in service obligation.
“From my background in rural special education, we know that trauma affects how children learn, interact with peers and adults, and behave in the instructional part of school,” Floyd said. “Schools have more psychological It has been fantastic to have health professionals come to support students from all backgrounds. I am very excited for Harrison County students and families and look forward to every step of the way in bringing the support the community needs.”
In addition to administering the fellowship program, Boulden and Schimmel are working to train 625 youth mental health first responders in 20 West Virginia public schools. Their outreach efforts benefited from a previously announced five-year, $500,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to teach adults how to help teens experiencing mental health or addiction challenge or crisis.
“There has been trauma, addiction and grief in our children’s lives,” Bolden said. “But there’s also now a growing desire to learn how to help. These trainings are very rewarding when you see the light bulb go off and you know these participants are ready to make a difference in the lives of children across the state.”
Schimmel said she hopes both grants will provide much-needed support to students in the state.
“Helping to improve student mental health outcomes through programs like this is just one way West Virginia University is fulfilling its land-grant mission and serving the country. Our team is proud to be a part of that mission,” she said.
-West Virginia University-
hlt/04/17/23
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