I recently wrote an op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer about the youth mental health crisis here in New Jersey, and across the country, and why we need to make investing in school-based mental health supports and services a priority. 

As part of my ongoing work with Mental Health America (MHA), I have been helping to spread the word about their new report, Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis: The Urgent Need for More Education, Services, and Supports. The report found that mental health education in schools is only required in a handful of states and that only 14 states are fully using Medicaid to fund mental health services in schools, a practice that increases accessibility and promotes equity. You can read more about the report here. 

Of course, there are states that have successfully implemented school-based mental health policies and some states that have committed to investing in youth mental health services. Last month, I was honored to join Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, my husband Patrick, and education and behavioral health leaders from across Delaware, for a roundtable discussion about how funds from the American Rescue Plan can support social emotional learning, multi-tiered systems of support, and increase access to behavioral health services for all students to help implement and ensure equitable education for a stronger and healthier Delaware. You can read more about the roundtable here.

I also recently had the opportunity to moderate a panel during the MHA’s August Summer Regional Policy Council featuring Dr. Art McCoy, Superintendent Emeritus of Jennings, Missouri School District and Dr. Bernadeia Johnson, Former superintendent of Minneapolis, Minnesota School District. We had a thought-provoking and interesting discussion about why schools are the prime setting for meeting youth mental health needs and preventing crises, and how school districts can ensure they are doing so through equitable means that empower underserved Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian students, staff, and families. 

Now is the time for all of us to make our voices heard and join in the fight to ensure that young people get access to the mental health support and services they need. If you want to learn more about what you can do, visit my website at www.amylkennedy.net, and follow me on social media. (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) 

I hope your summer was filled with opportunities to see family and friends during these challenging times, and that your loved ones are safe and healthy.  

All the best,

Amy