Salem, OR: Local schools short of counselors; partnering with mental health agencies

May 25, 2018, Salem (OR) Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer Public Schools short on mental-health services for students https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/2018/05/25/salem-keizer-schools-short-mental-health-services-students/645773002/ In the United States, a shocking 20 percent of children exhibit symptoms of a mental disorder, yet only one out of five will receive the help they need. This unfortunate reality shows the clear need for the mental health of students to be addressed in our nation’s schools…. The state of Oregon is already in a bad spot as is, ranking as the worst state for mental illness and the fourth-worst in graduation rates. In Salem-Keizer, Oregon’s second-largest school district, nearly 25 percent of its 42,000 students have some sort of mental disorder that affects their ability to function. … Weekly student support teams, a behavior-focused curriculum, and, most importantly, a partnership with Trillium Family Services, a large mental-health care provider, have made a notable difference. In the four schools currently partnered with the organization, students across all grade levels have access to free mental-health care. School officials and counselors have applauded the progress the on-site programs have made, but staff members point out that more still needs to be done…. … With one out of every four students in Salem-Keizer struggling with mental illness, the huge disparity in services throughout the district’s 65 schools is utterly appalling.