a result of the pandemic and its effects on students, public schools are raising mental health awareness

BY FRANCESCA RICO, STAFF WRITER

AS A RESULT OF THE NEGATIVE effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the youth, Miami-Dade County is taking steps to increase the importance of mental health in schools. In March 2023, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres began an expansion of mental health services at county schools, according to CBS News. Additionally, Broward County is also taking steps forward to help raise mental health awareness for students.

Currently, every school in MDCPS has at least one counselor that focuses on mental health to ensure that students have easy access to any resources they may need. At Gables, these counselors are Maria Bergouignan, Daraliz Collado, Fran Cosgrove, Daniel Finora, Leann Kurzner, Nattacha Lezcano, Beatrice Pedroso and Kevin Sepulveda. Students are assigned based on their academy.

“Our school system has actually brought back services it offered a decade and a half ago, such as the availability of TRUST counselors this year,” counselor Maria Bergouignan said. “The mental health specialists that we have were being added to all Student Services Departments just prior to the pandemic, and their numbers have increased since then.”

With this new expansion, MDCPS has increased the hours of the school district’s mental health assistance line, which provides immediate support for students in need. The line is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Additionally, according to the Miami Herald, the number of mobile response teams for mental health crises in Miami-Dade County will soon increase to four. This will allow people to message or call a line that will connect them with trained crisis counselors. The increase in teams will result in faster replies and support for those in crisis.

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“I have noticed an expansion on mental health services in the school system in the last couple years,” senior Samuel Torres said. “The after-school club for mental health awareness that started last year is really important for people who need it.”

Gables has expanded on mental health services in the last few years since the pandemic. Beginning last year, the Social and Emotional After-School Roundtable club was established, sponsored by mental health coordinator Diana Flores. This club allows students to discuss their mental health struggles and seek ways to improve it.

”The schools I work directly with have shown great priority for mental health,” Flores said. “For example, when I call a student, teachers are very supportive. I have noticed teachers sending students to counselors in times of crisis.”

The pandemic affected the social and emotional maturity of students by repressing their ability to socialize. This has affected their overall mental health, as many did not learn how to handle the increased stress.

According to the CDC, in 2021, 37.1% of high school students reported having poor mental health during the pandemic. Additionally, 11.1% of children ages 3-17 years old received mental health care in Florida in 2021, according to Kaiser Family

28% 20%

Source: Mental Health

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention h

Additionally, Gables will continue to increase mental health awareness through the creation of the Gables Wellness club, beginning next school year. This is being established by Gables Earth sponsor, Elizabeth Kiely, and Gables Earth board members. The club will focus on improving mental health through meditation and mindfulness.

Overall, the focus on mental health in education is increasing in South Florida, as schools begin to focus on balancing the importance of learning and maintaining one’s mental well-being as a student.

50% of Americans will be diagnosed with mental illness

Source: National Institute of Mental Health