From personal tragedy, a mental health mission
People who transform personal tragedies into helping others represent the best of our society. By this standard, John T. Broderick Jr., former chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, represents a beacon of hope for young people who suffer from mental illness and contemplate suicide (“Beating by his son led to new purpose,” Page A1, July 22).
Having had the good fortune prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to see Broderick mesmerize students while speaking at Arlington High School, I am gratified to learn from Amanda Gokee’s article that Broderick has persisted long past traditional retirement age with his compelling message.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in March that suicide rates overall increased 37 percent between 2000 and 2018 and decreased 5 percent between 2018 and 2020, before returning to their peak in 2022. Rates among children and young adults also spiked during this period. We need more people like Broderick to reverse this tragic trend.
Mark S. Sternman
Somerville
Students could gain from greater access to school psychologists
Thank you to Amanda Gokee for her coverage of John T. Broderick Jr.’s efforts to raise awareness about adolescent mental illness. I applaud Broderick’s advocacy on behalf of children and teens.
As young people continue to struggle with high rates of depression and other behavioral health challenges, I’d like to highlight a vital, but often overlooked, resource: school psychologists. These professionals provide critical services within schools, where adolescents spend much of their time. Their presence helps remove common barriers to care, such as transportation and insurance, making support more accessible.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all mental illness begins by age 14. Despite the clear need, there are far too few school psychologists to meet the growing demand. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends improving the student-to-psychologist ratio from a national average of 1,065 to 1 to 500 to 1.
As we confront the growing youth mental health crisis, it’s essential that we recognize the value of school psychology and invest in strengthening this crucial workforce.
Jason Kaplan
Newton
The writer is an associate professor and chair of the school psychology department at William James College.
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