To Missouri state legislators,

I’m writing to urge the legislature to provide all schools with designated funding for essential mental health workers. In our state, K-12 education funding has already been slashed by $133 million in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This leaves schools with fewer resources to support their students precisely when they are needed most. As the ongoing pandemic takes a toll on students’ mental health, it’s more important than ever that every school has at least one social worker or counselor that checks in with students regularly.

There’s no doubt that the pandemic has had harsh negative effects on all people — especially teenagers. Feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety are imminent when shut away from friends and other peers for elongated periods of time. Students who are currently learning remotely often spend hours upon hours staring at their computers with little to no actual human interaction. This can have dire consequences for both their physical and mental health.

Exacerbating these challenges is social media. With the ease of access to social media, teenagers are able to view their friends’ so-called “perfect lives” through apps like Snapchat and Instagram. In reality, however, everyone is going through different problems in their own lives, although it may not be publicly displayed in what they post. Students who are at high risk for COVID-19 or that have family members who are at high risk often isolate themselves more — and the constant flow of news and updates on social media can make that worse.

A designated fund would allow students to access the mental health resources and support they need and deserve. This is especially critical in schools serving low-income neighborhoods as these communities have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

Read the full article about mental health resources by Agha Haider at The 74.