Madison, Alabama (WAFF) – School leaders in the city of Madison held a Mental Health Resource Fair on Monday to show parents and students the importance of mental health.

Lindsey Doolittle, who has two children at MCS, decided to bring her children to the district-wide fair to help them become more aware of their mental health.

“I feel that mental health is very important, especially before she’s a teenager to learn about herself and her emotions,” Doolittle said.

District Mental Health Services Coordinator Stephanie Allen said there has been a gradual increase in student mental health concerns over the past decade.

“You just know what to do when you deal with anxiety, regulate your emotions, and experience big emotions as a child, teenager, or adult,” Allen said.

Nearly one in five children pre-pandemic had a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, according to the CDC.

Doolittle said he knew first-hand about the effect.

“My children’s mental health hasn’t deteriorated since the pandemic,” Doolittle said. “As they got older, I realized that they were exploring their emotions. During the pandemic, when they were home and away, they were really isolated from their friends and bored with things. It’s really nice to be back there and normalize in school.”

The school district now has a facility dog, Bernie, to help Midtown Elementary students feel safe while on campus.

Stephanie Cook, a counselor at Madison Elementary School, said she noticed changes in her students who could show empathy and compassion just by Barney’s presence.

“Bernie is trained to detect adrenaline cortisol in changes in children,” Cook said. Let adults know that you are

Click here for other resources the district offers to students.

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