Nearly three quarters of Franklin students have concerns about their own mental health, according to a survey conducted by the district.
The survey, which had close to 900 students and about 40 teachers respond, asked students from 7th through 12th grade about not only their own mental health but about what they were seeing in their peers. The survey also asked teachers of all grades what they saw in their students and if they felt properly equipped to handle mental health challenges.
At the start of the school year, the district formed a mental health committee, a group of administrators and counselors, to address what was seen as an increased need for mental health services, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Deb Brown-Nally said. She said there has been an increase in suicide ideation reports, paired with a recent two-year stretch that included three student suicides.
The idea of a growing need for such services is bolstered by the survey results as provided by 37 percent of the middle and high school students. More than 80 percent of students saw stress and/or anxiety in themselves or their peers. Depression was third with 73.6 percent of respondents identifying it.
About 42 percent of students said either they or someone they know has struggled with thoughts of suicide.
With the data, the committee discussed possibilities for how to address the problem, including adding a “Director of Mental Health Services” position, which would coordinate mental health training for staff and develop and implement mental health screening protocols as well as protocols for a self-harm and suicide ideation safety plan. Other recommendations include adding six to eight school-based therapists and adding a crisis liaison position for children who are struggling the most with mental health issues.
“Until tonight I never thought about what are we doing and where are our gaps,” school board President Bryan Wertz said. “It’s a huge unmet need.”
Superintendent David Clendening recommended the committee continue researching strategies for helping students with mental health issues, come up with an action plan and come to the board with a formal recommendation for approval. He praised the initial step of getting the survey to students and faculty.
“I think it’s really good so many students responded to the survey,” Clendening said. “I think both as a school and a society we realize there’s a lot of mental health stress occurring.
“I applaud kids for responding and telling us, ‘yes, there’s a concern.’”
In the survey, students were also asked to identify what areas of life that negatively affect students’ mental health. Fewer than half of student respondents mentioned family problems as a high point of stress for the student body, but all the teachers stated that was a likely issue for students.
Teachers also put significantly more responsibility on social media and drugs and alcohol than students did. More students than teachers, however, noted fear of the future and school stress as a factor in mental health issues.
Nearly all teachers surveyed said they had worried about or supported a student with mental health concerns. The vast majority of those teachers, however, said they did not have enough information regarding those concerns. Clendening said this means either the teachers do not have the training needed to deal with such issues or they don’t know who to point students to in order to get help.
“We want our teachers to feel knowledgeable, equipped and confident to help and support students with mental health concerns because many times they are on the front line,” Brown-Nally said in an email. “Teacher training may include, but is not limited to, identifying risk factors, listening and questioning skills, next steps (and) resources.”
Clendening said the board will not take any action on the matter in February, but said the sooner the district moves forward with helping Franklin students, the better.
