School Safety and Mental Health
Student safety must continue to be our first priority. Thanks to a partnership with the Town of Plainfield and Plainfield Police Department, School Resource Officers are present in every Plainfield school. Our buildings are secure and meet or surpass today’s structural guidelines, and yet we must remain diligent and meet new challenges as they evolve.
While we are fortunate and ahead of many other school districts by employing school counselors in every building, including a Mental Wellness Counselor at the middle and high schools, the sad reality is that today’s students and adults are struggling with anxiety and depression at alarming rates:
“According to the CDC, the most current Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (1991-2021) has found that 46.9 percent of Indiana high school students have ‘felt sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row.’ The same survey found that over 22 percent of Indiana’s high school students seriously considered suicide, with 17 percent of them making a plan and 10.2 percent of Indiana high school students actually attempting suicide.”
Indiana’s Youth Mental Health Crisis, Cameron Williams, Youth First, Inc., April 4, 2024.
Margaret’s experience, both as a parent of teens and a substitute teacher, informs her understanding of the mental health challenges many students face today. She has also witnessed the outstanding care school and mental wellness counselors offer our students.
Specifically at the middle and high schools, mental wellness counselors support students who have ongoing needs, but also support students with acute needs. Their knowledge and skills allow students to minimize time away from the classroom while equipping them with tools to navigate whatever issues they might be facing.
Data clearly shows that today’s preteens and teens are struggling with serious mental health challenges. As these needs grow, we must continue to grow our support of the resources available to students. These resources may come via additional staff, partnerships with community experts, parent forums, or something as simple as publishing more information and on-line resources suitable for both students and their families.