LIVE FOR US NOW AT A GLANCE WHAT’S GOING ON IN HAMPSHIRE. SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS. TODAY, HAMPSHIRE SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, NURSES AND PRINCIPALS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES DURING THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, HIGHLIGHTING THE LEARNING MORNINGS AND EDUCATION TEACHERS AND MANY SCHOOLS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW CREATE TEAMS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. STUDENTS IN THE FUTURE SCHOOL. INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND EXPANDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS ADDING MORE SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP STUDENTS DEAL WITH ISSUES. THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCED OUT OF SCHOOL POST-PANDEMIC. HIS DATA SHOWS THAT IT DEFINITELY AFFECTED STUDENTS IN A NEGATIVE WAY. SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE HIS. WE NEED TO DEVELOP, PLAN TO HELP WITH IT. AND THE SCHOOL HAS DONE THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR DAYS AND YEARS SINCE WE’VE BEEN GETTING PERSONAL. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY, THEY TRY TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE SOCIAL WORKER FOR EVERY 250 STUDENTS. THIS IS THE NATIONAL REPORT NOW IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THERE IS ONE SOCIAL WORKER FOR EVERY 1,000 STUDENTS.
New Hampshire schools plan to expand mental health services for students
Officials say students struggled during the pandemic
Updated: 6:18 PM EDT August 17, 2022
As the first day of school approaches, districts are reporting an increase in mental health needs among Granite State students. New Hampshire school districts said the pandemic has had a direct impact on the mental health of their students. School social workers, psychologists, nurses and principals met Wednesday afternoon to share what they experienced during the past school year. Many highlighted learning gaps in education and more students with mental health needs. Districts are now creating response teams to provide support to students, including mental health training and expanding behavioral health and wellness services within schools. More social workers will be added to help students deal with issues they may experience outside of school. “Coming back after the pandemic, our students came back with more than they left,” said Courtney Porter, president of the New Hampshire Association of School Social Workers. “So we really found ourselves in a position of how can we support them? Especially with the gaps in education, but also what was happening to them when they weren’t in school. So as they come back to us, we’re prepared for them, for what they are bringing and the level of intense mental health.” School officials said they would like to have at least one social worker for every 250 students, which is the nationally recommended ratio. Currently, New Hampshire has one social worker for every 1,000 students.
As the first day of school approaches, districts are reporting an increase in mental health needs among Granite State students.
New Hampshire school districts said the pandemic has had a direct impact on the mental health of their students.
School social workers, psychologists, nurses and principals met Wednesday afternoon to share what they experienced during the past school year. Many highlighted learning gaps in education and more students with mental health needs.
Districts are now creating response teams to provide support to students, including mental health training and expanding behavioral health and wellness services within schools. More social workers will be added to help students deal with issues they may experience outside of school.
“Coming back after the pandemic, our students came back with more than they left,” said Courtney Porter, president of the New Hampshire Association of School Social Workers. “So we really found ourselves in a position of how can we support them? Especially with the gaps in education, but also what was happening to them when they weren’t in school. So as they come back to us, we’re prepared for them, what they are bringing and the level of intensive mental health.”
School officials said they would like to have at least one social worker for every 250 students, which is the nationally recommended ratio. Currently, New Hampshire has one social worker for every 1,000 students.