Feds Award Near $10 Million to Fund Mental Health Services in FL Schools
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In light of recent data indicating a worrisome surge in mental health issues and suicide risk among teenagers, the U.S. Department of Education has announced the allocation of millions of dollars in grants to seven school districts in Florida. This funding is part of a comprehensive five-year plan to invest $1 billion into improving mental health services.
With the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and various other pressures affecting the education landscape, children have faced significant challenges, prompting federal, state, and local school officials to take action.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the findings of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which highlights the rise in mental health issues and suicide risk among youth in the country between 2011 and 2021.
This report, which is released biennially, presents data collected through surveys conducted in public, Roman Catholic, and other non-public high schools. The most recent data was compiled based on 17,232 questionnaires received from 152 schools in 2021.
According to the CDC, 42 percent of students in 2021 reported persistently experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, compared to 37 percent in 2019 prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic.
Furthermore, the report reveals that 78 percent of LGBQ+ students felt so profoundly sad or hopeless for at least two consecutive weeks that they discontinued their regular activities. In contrast, 50 percent of heterosexual students reported the same. However, the report does not explicitly provide data regarding experiences of transgender students.
Despite the DeSantis administration’s claims of supporting mental health initiatives, many LGBTQ+ students and parents in Florida express concerns that the state is becoming increasingly inhospitable for their families. They refer to legislation limiting discussions on LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 classrooms and administrative policies aimed at curtailing gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Another troubling finding from the CDC study examines the percentage of students who contemplated suicide in 2021. The data shows that 22 percent of students seriously considered attempting suicide, which is an increase from 19 percent in 2019.
When broken down by gender, 30 percent of female students revealed that they seriously considered attempting suicide, compared to 14 percent of male students.
The study also found that suicide attempts increased from 9 percent of students in 2019 to 10 percent in 2021. In the same year, 13 percent of female respondents and 7 percent of male respondents reported that they had attempted suicide within the past year.
Safer Communities Act
The grant money, as outlined in a press release on Thursday, is part of the federally enacted Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed by President Joe Biden in June. Local and state education agencies were required to apply for these funds.
In Florida, seven counties will receive grants ranging from $500,000 to $3 million. These funds will be allocated towards the recruitment and retention of mental health professionals through the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant program.
According to the Department of Education’s press release:
“These funds aim to increase the number of school psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals who can provide crucial services to our students. This will be achieved through recruitment and retention efforts, as well as by promoting re-specialization and professional retraining of existing mental health providers. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance the diversity and cultural and linguistic competency of school-based mental health services providers.”
Furthermore, three Florida state universities will receive federal grants to train professionals who will offer school-based mental health services. Florida International University will receive $1.2 million, the University of Florida will receive $868,338, and the University of South Florida will receive $446,308.
Just this week, representatives in Florida engaged in discussions about the impact of technology and social media on students and whether these factors contribute to the decline in mental health. These discussions took place during a meeting of the House Education and Employment committee.
Additionally, First Lady Casey DeSantis has led an initiative called Hope Ambassadors, aimed at enhancing students’ mental health. This program encourages the establishment of clubs that foster a compassionate and supportive learning environment through student-led mentorship and community service.
Florida Phoenix operates as part of States Newsroom, a collective of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors functioning as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. For inquiries, please contact Editor Diane Rado at info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
Your assignment is to rephrase the entire text using better vocabulary and ensuring uniqueness with natural language. The resulting text should be written in English. The original text is as follows:
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Here is the rephrased and enhanced text:
"The speedy russet-colored fox gracefully leaps over the lethargic canine."
