Mental Health Matters

Eric Weier
Director of Special Education & Student Services, School District of Beloit

March 2024 - Mental Health Matters

The Importance of Recognizing and Responding to Mental Health Needs

The School District of Beloit is proud to partner with the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, 7-Mindsets, and over 30 community partners to offer a night of education and connection around the importance of recognizing and responding to mental health needs as well as where to get the assistance needed in the community. The event is on Thursday, March 21, 2024, which also happens to be in the middle of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, which is fitting as Mental Health America notes that “people with depression or other mental health problems are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug use. Some may choose to drink alcohol or use drugs to alleviate stress or emotional pain", Beloit is not immune to seeing similar trends around substance use as a coping mechanism.

Embrace Where People are at and Support Them

Now more than ever, it's important to embrace where people are at and support them in getting their needs met. The School District of Beloit seeks student perception data through various universal screening tools. Our data shows us that our students continue to face mental health-related challenges in this ever-changing world. Students in 4th through 12th grades were given opportunities to self-assess where they feel they are currently. Of those surveyed, 62% of 9th - 12th graders reported too much stress that keeps them from being successful in school, and 51% of surveyed 4th through 8th graders reported the same.

In addition, 49% of all students surveyed in 6th - 12th grade self-reported “significant problems with anxiety,” and 32% reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for more than two weeks in a row. However, only 20% of students surveyed reported that they most or always get help when needed. As a district, we have an obligation to find creative ways to support our students and families and remove barriers when they present themselves.

We Need a Call to Action

Even more concerning, national data provided through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which the School District of Beloit participates in, shows trends where the rates of students experiencing bullying, sexual violence, overall poor mental health, as well as increased levels of reported trauma and distress indicate a need for action. The YRBS highlights that social determinants play a role in overall health, and housing stability is one of the most critical social determinants of health. “Youth who are unstably housed are more likely than their stably housed peers to experience violence, use substances, and have higher rates of poor mental health”. The School District of Beloit has approximately 10% of our student population identified as homeless or unaccompanied each year.

Partnerships, Collaboration, and Resources Provide Help

The School District of Beloit is fortunate to have established a partnership with 7-Mindsets, which is the district’s middle and high school social and emotional learning resource. They have been key partners in this work and will have two team members onsite to continue the discussions around the data and how we can respond to support our students. JoJuan Armour and Dr. Byron McClure will also share their stories about how they got to where they are today. We look forward to all attending this excellent opportunity for our students and families. Let's continue to show our kids that we care!