Fort Wayne, Indiana (WANE) – Mental health is in focus as students and faculty return to school.

Fort Wayne Community School Superintendent Mark Daniel said mental and behavioral health problems are on the rise nationwide, and his school district is no exception. He says research shows that one in his ten teens has attempted suicide.

“The isolation our students had, the fact that they came back, they came back last year, and I think it still weighs on their minds. We have to serve,” said Daniel.

To address the issue, Daniels says Fort Wayne Community School hired a behavioral expert to add time at the Bowen Center, the district’s mental health provider. Danielle says the funding comes primarily from her ESSER fund in the district.

Daniels says they also got creative by having time to discuss and reflect on these issues and implement new programs to find ways to relieve stress. Not only for students, but also for faculty and staff.

“We also know we are all struggling, so we added a program that gives teachers 24/7 access to mental health providers, therapists,” said Danielle. rice field. We are all trying to keep everyone’s batteries charged, both physical and mental batteries, as they tend to give way to us and then move into depression and other symptoms, and they I would like to discuss the

Advisors and advisors meet each week to discuss situations, academic plans, and build relationships, Daniels said. He says they knew they needed to do something different from last year to close the gaps they had seen in numeracy and literacy scores: pay attention to student and staff well-being The thing is, he’s one of those strategies.