Re: “Concentrate on youth psychological well being or face unexpected prices” [Dec. 7, Opinion]:
What higher technique to handle our youth psychological well being disaster than to give attention to early intervention, normalize asking for assist, and scale back obstacles to getting care? That is precisely what school-based well being facilities in our state are doing by providing built-in medical and psychological well being care the place college students already spend a lot of their time — at college. And never surprisingly, psychological well being points are one of many foremost causes college students search care at school-based well being facilities.
Whereas there are greater than 70 school-based well being facilities in additional than 30 college districts in Washington, that leaves about 90% of college districts with none school-based well being middle. It have to be modified. It is a confirmed mannequin that improves college students’ psychological and bodily well being and improves the flexibility to be taught. With youth-centered well being schooling and companies out there at school, extra college students are prone to keep wholesome, really feel supported, able to be taught and graduate at school.
The Legislature could make a big distinction by investing extra in school-based well being facilities so that every one college students have entry to this unimaginable useful resource, particularly these most impacted by inequities in our schooling and well being care techniques.
Sandy Lennon, Govt Director, Washington College-Based mostly Well being Alliance