Expanding mental health support for students

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Elizabeth Sullivan’s daughter is set to graduate soon, but Sullivan said she was worried her daughter’s last days of high school could come with distraction and distress.

“I worry about the access to drugs and guns and violence at school,” Sullivan said. “It’s pretty scary, it’s very anxiety-provoking for both of us, because is she ready for college? What’s going to keep her safe?” 

Sullivan said her daughter often struggles with her mental health, and going back to school could trigger her stressors. She’s attended multiple schools in the last few years, and while her daughter has gone to therapy, insurance doesn’t cover a lot of the costs.

“It’s a very tenuous tightrope that we’re on,” Sullivan said. “The stress of social media has been a huge stressor. Counselors in the schools are overworked. There are too many kids to be able to deal with all the issues they have. We discuss do we need to go to the emergency room? Are you going to harm yourself?”

Dawn Peel works as senior director of the Office of Crisis Coordination at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Peels said heading back to school can mark a time of transition. 

“It’s about getting back in the routine, maybe a new school and teachers, being around different peers can also be a stressor,” Peel said. “If parents or students are experiencing emotional distress or need support, or experience a crisis situation, they can reach out via call or text to 988.”

Peel said anyone can turn to 988, a free confidential service available 24 hours a day to help manage crises and prevent self-harm. The behavioral specialist said around 84 percent of Georgians are aware 988 exists, but often don’t know what to do when a crisis occurs. 

“People may not always be aware of how to reach out,” Peel said. “It can be a relationship ending or something like that, or even things like emotional distress related to going back to school. If you’re concerned about someone else, you can reach out to 988 on their behalf and get them information.”

Experts said friends and family can also help students struggling and in need by looking for signs like mood swings, irritability or other changes that may seem out of the ordinary. Peel said Georgia is averaging around 270,000 calls, texts and chats per year with 988 and its crisis hotline. 

Sullivan said her daughter has reached out to 988 multiple times and credits the resource for lifechanging assistance. With struggles around school, social media and more, Sullivan said getting her daughter the lifesaving help she needs matters most.  

“988 really helped her come off the edge,” Sullivan said. “They were there to support and guide and calm her down.”