The role of public education in America has evolved since the first schools were established in the 17th century. 

At first, teachers focused on the family, church and community. 

In the 19th century, educators began to focus on academics.

Now, in the 21st century, schools have an added role of addressing students’ mental health needs.  

For the Lauderdale County School District, that means providing services through school counselors and partnerships with organizations such as Weems Community Mental Health Center. 

Since schools cannot diagnose a mental illness, a student is usually helped through an outside agency, with the school serving as a resource.

Weems provides mental health and substance abuse services for people in nine counties, including Lauderdale County. Working through the youth services division of Weems, students who are Weems clients have access to therapy sessions, while school counselors are provided for students on a regular basis for non-Weems clients. 

Seeing an increase

Over the last 20 years, experts have seen a rise in the number of children being treated for mental illness, according to Lee Lee Marlow, a licensed psychologist and director of the division of Children and Youth Services at Weems. Common issues are attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, she said. 

Marlow said teachers not only have to focus on academics, but have to also deal with behavioral issues, so Weems provides schools with training on classroom management. The agency also provides after-school sessions for students, and if there is a crisis, such as the death of a student, a team of counselors is sent to the school, Marlow said.

Many children just need someone to talk to when they are going through a difficult time, according to Diane Freeman, the director of special services for the Lauderdale County School District.   

“Whatever kids bring to school from home, we try to assist with that,” Freeman said. “Especially when they have a situation like a divorce or a death, their minds are not with us.” 

Attending to students’ mental health needs has become easier for educators because people are more open to discussing the issue, Freeman noted. 

Melanie Davis, a social worker at Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School, said parents are becoming more aware about their childrens’ mental health needs. 

That means, for example, parents are more comfortable about calling the school if they have concerns about their child, Freeman said. 

“That’s a plus, because a parent is not afraid to get help for their kids,” she said. 

Resources 

The district provides in-school and outside resources for students who might be dealing with a mental illness or behavioral issue.

If a staff member believes a student has a problem, they are usually referred to a school counselor’s office, said Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School counselor Whitney Coleman. Sometimes, students will refer themselves, Coleman said.  

Coleman sometimes helps kids who have a hard time expressing themselves, for example, in dealing with a divorce.

Coleman said while collaborating with a social worker at the school, they try to assess what a child is going through. Sometimes, it’s as simple as comforting a student worried about grades.

“Just showing that you care goes a long way,” Coleman said.

Classroom behavior issues

Not paying attention during class, a lack of self-control and disrespect are some common examples of behavioral issues, said Taneka Mitchell, the K-6 behavioral specialist for the Lauderdale County School District. Mitchell said one way to solve those problems is through behavior modification. 

“We try to teach them replacement behaviors, so we can have them not display those negative behaviors,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said her main job is making sure behavior does not affect a student’s academic performance, with an emphasis on keeping them in class. 

“Our goals are to keep them in the classroom, in an educational setting,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said it’s more effective to work with children when they are young, so if any issues arise, they can be addressed early. 

By the numbers

According to the Centers for Disease and Control, 6.1 million children from ages 2-17 have ADHD, 4.5 million have been diagnosed with a behavioral disorder, 4.4 million have been diagnosed with anxiety and 1.9 million have been diagnosed with depression.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, Mississippi ranks 48th in the country in the lack of providing mental health services for children and adults. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 11 percent of high school students had a least one major depressive episode

“K-6 are really the foundation in teaching those replacement behaviors so they can be successful,” Mitchell said. 

Alternative school

At the district’s alternative school, which was created two years ago, students get individual assistance with their behavior.

Tammy Matthews, the school’s principal, said students receive three, two-hour group sessions a week, which includes an hour with a Weems therapist at the school.

That level of support is really helpful to the students, she said. 

“Weems plays a huge part in the success,” Matthews said.  

For students with more serious mental or emotional needs, the district provides a connection to outside resources such as Millcreek in Newton or Alliance Health Center in Meridian. Millcreek serves  adolescents with emotional and developmental disabilities, while Alliance provides psychiatric and other services for adults and adolescents.