Virginia Schools to Enhance Student Well-Being with Expanded Mental Health Training for Educators

By Marlin Adams, VCU Capital News Service

In Richmond, Virginia, state lawmakers are stepping up efforts to improve mental health resources for teachers and students. This comes in response to the growing mental health needs following the pandemic.

Two bills recently passed with full support in the General Assembly. Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling introduced these measures aimed at boosting participation in the state’s Mental Health First Aid Training Program.

The Virginia Department of Education and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services will work on a plan to engage public high school students and teachers in this important program. Established in 2016, this initiative helps individuals recognize mental health issues and respond effectively.

Lawmakers believe that increasing participation will offer students better resources during mental health crises. According to a recent report, nearly half of Virginia’s school divisions struggle to find qualified school psychologists. Funding issues make it hard for many schools to hire enough mental health professionals.

In Virginia, schools must hire counselors at a ratio of one for every 325 students, but they are not required to have social workers or psychologists. Teachers are crucial in supporting student mental health, as noted by the Behavioral Health Commission.

Training sessions will take place in several public school districts, both during and after school hours. The training is divided into eight hours, with two hours of self-paced work and six hours of live instruction. The curriculum will provide detailed resources to enhance awareness about mental health topics and available training opportunities.

There will be two training courses offered for adults: one for those assisting adults, and another focused on youth. Sadly, Virginia ranks 48th in youth access to mental health care, according to a recent study by Mental Health America.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission has studied the pandemic’s impact on K-12 education. Their findings show that many schools lack enough mental health staff, despite an increase in student mental health issues. In a 2022 survey, 40% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for an extended period, and 13% seriously considered suicide.

While participation in the training is not mandatory for students or staff, the program will provide them with vital mental health education. Teachers like Kim Jordan from Norfolk Public Schools believe that annual mental health training should be part of their professional development. She emphasizes that teachers frequently deal with mental health crises and need more training in this area.

Another teacher, Byron Whitehead, echoes her sentiments. He believes that this training will help educators connect better with their students, allowing them to recognize and respond to mental health issues more effectively. However, he also worries that students might feel singled out for attending such programs and suggests creating incentives to encourage their involvement.

The Virginia Department of Education plans to develop age-appropriate training for children, ensuring that younger students can also benefit from mental health education.

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