The Lansing School District has partnered with Care Solace to provide mental health care services to students, their families, and school staff members. The collaboration aims to break down barriers to accessing mental health care, including insurance and financial challenges. The services will be funded by grant money, and the goal is to make mental health support readily available to the Lansing community.
Community Impact:
The partnership will benefit not only students but also their families and school staff. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the importance of seeking help for mental health challenges and reduce the stigma associated with it.
Mental Health Concerns in Teens:
Brian Peters, the Regional Director of K-12 Partnerships for Care Solace, highlighted the growing concern of mental health issues among young teens. Nationally, it has been identified that 24 percent of all students are struggling with some type of mental health need at any given time.
Expanding Mental Health Support:
Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner explained that social workers and counselors have traditionally addressed students’ mental health needs. However, this new partnership will allow them to reach more people in the community and break down the barriers to accessing mental health care, particularly related to health insurance.
Parent Perspective:
One parent, Casharie Dillard, expressed hope that this initiative will teach her children the valuable lesson that they can ask for help when needed. She emphasized the importance of seeking assistance for mental health issues.
Conclusion:
The collaboration between Lansing schools and Care Solace is a significant step toward enhancing mental health support in the community. By providing accessible mental health services, the initiative aims to improve the well-being of students, families, and school staff while addressing the increasing mental health concerns among young teens.
