Teachers, principals keep an eye on student mental health

McCOOK, Neb. — School principals and teachers are responsible for much more than just reading, writing and arithmetic.

Unlike 20 years ago, teachers and principals nowadays have to have strategies and policies in place for mental health issues, said Superintendent Grant Norgaard at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night.

He and other McCook Public School administrators talked about their response to a “Nebraska Loves Public Schools” documentary that explored mental health in public schools. The schools featured in the documentary, and how they addressed mental health in their schools, were those in the Millard Public School District in Omaha, North Platte Public Schools and some smaller schools.

All of the administrators present Monday night agreed that mental health issues are increasing, not only among students but teachers as well. More teachers are taking advantage of reimbursable counseling services available, said John Hanson, the district’s Special Education director.

But there are some people who don’t agree with schools taking on the role of a mental health counselor.

“They say, is it really the school’s job to do this, or the family’s?” Hanson said. But if the school doesn’t do something, then nothing changes, he said.

It’s a responsibility that come with being an educator nowadays. Many don’t realize that teachers and principals are dealing with more than just academics, said school board member Loretta Hauxwell. “It’s not just discipline but life problems” they are addressing on a daily basis, Hauxwell said.

And mental health issues don’t discriminate along socio-economic lines so no school is immune, said district business manager, John Brazell, who cited the example that bullying leading to suicide can occur at any school.

This means that issues affect schools large and small. Joel Bednar, Central Elementary principal, said mental health issues can be elusive to identify, as issues tend “to come out in academics or behavior, he said, before the “root cause” is identified. And sometimes these “root causes” can seem almost overwhelming to rectify, he said.

McCook High School principal Jeff Gross agreed and cited issues such as depression, self-harm and anxiety he’s encountered at the high school. The more immediate those students can get help, the better, he said.

In addition to mental health challenges, kids also struggle to learn when basic needs are not met, said Tom Bredvick, school board president. “How are you going to learn algebra if you don’t know where you’re going to sleep that night?” he asked.

Watch the documentary here.