McKinney | June 2023

HEALTH McKinney ISD oers resources as mental health concerns intensify

COUNTY TRENDS Mental health issues found among McKinney students are also aecting residents county-wide, according to a 2022 prole of Collin County’s behavioral health. 10,000

55,000 of the total 271,500 Collin County residents with mental health issues are classied as serious

Approximate amount served by behavioral health authority Lifepath Systems, in 2021 8,300 Total number of calls answered by Lifepath System’s Crisis Hotline in 2021

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

“[We] used technology often to entertain ourselves during the pandemic, and those habits have kind of created a group of students that maybe is even more plugged in than what we’ve seen in the past,” Akins said. Akins said the eects of ination and a tightened economy could be an additional stressor for students expe- riencing worsened mental health. “When you have economic constraint in a community, kids can sometimes take the brunt of that,” she said. “They are not only just experiencing the eects of the nancial times, they also don’t have much power to aect it.” The details The district has focused on creating resources and promoting resilience to combat the mental health concerns. Prevention eorts and resources

McKinney ISD ocials have developed resources for students as the district sees an intensication of familiar mental health concerns. The context The district uses a comprehensive approach to monitoring and tracking mental health trends. “We are not necessarily getting brand-new issues that we’ve never seen before. ... However, there has been some ... intensication of those needs or a higher acuity of those needs,” said Jennifer Akins, the district’s senior director of guidance and counseling. Mental health concerns, such as anxiety, are being seen at a younger age. Research points to loss of a family member, a lack of sleep, and social media as contributors to this trend, Akins said.

Those in need of assistance can contact Lifepath System through its Crisis Hotline: 877-422-5939

SOURCE: COALITION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE IN COLLIN COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

employed at the campus level aid in building resiliency, Akins said. One resource available to students is the Harold Murphy Counseling Center. Created through a part- nership with Texas A&M Universi- ty-Commerce, the center oers any MISD student up to eight sessions at no cost, Akins said. District ocials have also created

resources for parents to learn com- mon mental health concerns found in students. A free online course is available through MISD’s website. “We have lots of community part- ners, and we’ve brought in people to record videos and write portions for us, so our hope is that it’s a really robust resource for our families,” Akins said.

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