Local school districts tackle post-pandemic increase in mental health challenges

(The Dallas Examiner) – Since the pandemic, there has been a nationwide trend of K-12-age children experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, with the majority of children having returned to traditional school environments, Dr. Tracey Brown emphasized the critical need for resources and skills to help students cope with the lingering effects of the pandemic. Related Stories “I think something got lost in terms of how we connect and build healthy relationships,” said Brown, executive director of Mental Health Services at Dallas Independent School District. With 13 Youth and Family Centers located across the Dallas area and a notable increase in counseling and psychiatric services, Dallas ISD provides mental health services for all K-12 students and their families. These centers offer access to licensed therapists, psychiatrists and referrals to the district’s network of third-party resources. During the pandemic, the Dallas ISD school board of trustees allocated additional funds to mental health services to gain an additional 25 clinicians and effectively doubled their outreach efforts. However, Brown said the future availability of these funds is uncertain. “Those extra dollars run out this year, but we’ve asked...