Re: “Give attention to youth psychological well being or face unimaginable prices” [Dec. 7, Opinion]:
What higher technique to deal with our youth psychological well being disaster than specializing in early intervention, normalizing asking for assist and lowering limitations to getting care? That is precisely what school-based well being facilities in our state do, by offering built-in medical and psychological well being care the place college students already spend a lot of their time — in school. And never surprisingly, psychological well being points are one of many major causes college students search care at school-based well being facilities.
Whereas there are greater than 70 school-based well being heart websites in additional than 30 faculty districts in Washington, that leaves roughly 90% of faculty districts with no school-based well being heart. That should change. This can be a confirmed mannequin that improves college students’ psychological and bodily well being, bettering capacity to study. With youth-centered well being schooling and providers obtainable in school, extra college students are more likely to keep wholesome, really feel supported, be in school able to study and graduate.
The Legislature could make a major distinction by investing extra in school-based well being facilities, so each pupil has entry to this unbelievable useful resource, particularly these most impacted by inequities in our schooling and well being care programs.
Sandy Lennon, government director, Washington Faculty-Based mostly Well being Alliance
