Pandemic isolation shows need for mental health counselors in schools

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma high school students have shared mental health stress throughout the pandemic, now they're bringing those concerns to state leaders.

"I do sincerely believe that both the state and our schools really want what is best for their students, but with that being said, we need to then not focus so much on what grades they're getting or what our test scores are and be more focused on what every student needs," said Eli Winter, senior at Bartlesville High School and member of the Oklahoma Student Advisory Council.

The council is made up of 97 students from across Oklahoma who meet with state leaders like Joy Hofmeister,Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

"They all talk about how things are just different than they have been in the past, but that teachers are working double and triple time to make connections with their students and they appreciate it," Hoffmeister said.

Winter shared the need for more counselors in schools, specifically to deal with mental health issues.

"I don't believe that these issues were just now appearing," said Winter. "I believe that they, to some extent are, but I believe that they've always been around. I believe that the second we deal with these, the better off we're going to be."

Other students shared the same concern. Aiden Dodd, a senior at Broken Arrow High School, is also on the council and said after being in virtual learning throughout the entire month of December, he was struggling.

"I love school so much and I love being here with my friends and it's hard not to see them every day," Dodd said.

He said it's frustrating to be back-and-forth from distance learning to sitting in a classroom because of teacher shortages and community spread.

"I was talking to another teacher and she told me that she wishes that the parents that want to keep their kids in school so bad, that they would follow the same guidelines that we do," Dodd said.

Supt. Hoffmeister agrees that communities play a large part in getting students back to in-person learning.

"As there's elevated spread within neighborhoods and communities in certain parts of the state, we see that having a direct impact on the ability for our teachers to be at school," Hofmeister said. "Our ability to have substitute teachers who can come in and keep things rolling when there is an absence required, but it's also transportation with bus drivers and those who are providing the meals in the cafeteria. We have to have all of those people for schools to operate. So it really is a collective impact and a collective effort to keep schools open."

When schools try to bring more students back, health precautions will be in place.

President Biden shared thoughts on how schools can be prepared including plastic barriers, wearing masks, secure ventilation systems, and more.

Supt. Hofmeister said federal relief funding should help schools obtain those supplies.

"No matter what, I do think we will see our schools finishing the year open and trying to have face-to-face instruction," Hofmeister said.

She has also included $18.2 million in the OSDE budget request for a School Counselor Corps in Fiscal Year 2022.

Hofmeister expects this funding will help get more counselors into schools and help them become certified.