COM M U N I T Y
Me n t al Hea lth Access
Moore Public Schools Director of Student Services Dr. Kristy Hernandez
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Moore Public Schools increases access to professional resources for students and staff
he COVID-19 pandemic has brought mental health concerns to the forefront throughout our community, including for students of all ages. Although mental health is an issue for every individual, just like physical health, the need for related services and interventions has increased. Economic instability, feelings of isolation during quarantine, the threat of illness and looming uncertainty take a toll. “For a lot of our families, everyone’s been living in this perpetual world of the unknown,” said Moore Public Schools Director of Student Services Dr. Kristy Hernandez. “There have been so many questions. Is the next variant stronger? How will it affect us? We’ve been surrounded by death and there has been division that’s come out of that. Our society is in a constant argument state.”
10 March 2022
The role of the internet and social media is also a contributing factor. “Our kids have so much access to information now, including adult information,” Hernandez said. The legalization of marijuana also took place just before the pandemic began, a factor Hernandez mentioned as contributing to children’s increased access to the substance at home. “We are absolutely seeing drug use at younger ages. Everything has culminated at this point,” she explained. “There is an uptick in the need for services across the board. School therapists are serving as many students as possible and our faculty and staff now has access to services, too.” Moore Public Schools has worked to address students’ mental health needs, which were pressing even before
