Students often complain that schools and counselors don’t do enough for the mental health of their students, and when they do, it feels very superficial and out of touch. However, this is not the school’s fault and is partially due to state laws that prevent school district employees from advising students or parents to seek outside counseling when a student is struggling. Section 38.010. (a) states “A school district or school district employee may not refer a student to an outside counselor for care or treatment of a chemical dependency or an emotional or psychological condition” unless they have written consent from a parent. This is an extremely problematic and antiquated law for a few reasons. It is a teacher’s job to know their students well so they can effectively teach, and since COVID-19, more and more students are struggling with their mental health and could genuinely benefit from getting more support.
Teachers tend to know their students extremely well and can sometimes identify problems or changes in a student better than a parent can. This is especially true of learning and behavioral disabilities. If teachers were allowed to talk to parents about getting their children tested or even putting them in therapy for certain issues, the children would get more accommodations at school, and they would have their needs met to succeed. Teachers are easily able to tell when a student could have ADHD, especially at the elementary school level when they are with the same students all day. ADHD students can have an especially hard time in a traditional school setting, and they struggle a lot more than their peers to retain information. If it can be caught early on, the student will be able to learn ways to cope and have a clearer understanding that it isn’t their fault that they struggle.
School staff being able to help a student by recommending professional help could be life-saving. Tools like therapy and medication shouldn’t be stigmatized anymore, and mental health is just as important to a person’s well-being as their physical health. Fortunately, WISD recognizes that and has a resource known as “Care Solace” that will help any WISD student, staff, or family find affordable mental health care that’s compatible with their insurance for free. Care Solace is a great resource for families that should be talked about more often. WHS does everything it legally can to help students get the support they need.
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and it needs to be taken care of just like all the rest. Students are in the most formative and impressionable years of their lives, it is normal to need extra support at times, and allowing teachers to notice the signs and make a positive impact can only benefit students. If there is someone who is struggling or whose behavior has changed, make sure to check in with them and recommend Care Solace to find professional support.
