Mental Health
Since Covid, student mental health has been the #1 issue in schools across the country. Anxiety and depression among our children have been rising rapidly, and suicide is the second leading cause of death. As concerning as this is, there’s an even deeper challenge: access. Teenagers in New Hampshire and across the country now have to wait three to six months to see a therapist in person. That is when tragedy strikes.
A promising solution is school-centered online therapy. Students can schedule an online appointment with a licensed therapist in a week. The waiting period for mental health support is cut by 90–95%.
Our Program
Safe Schools has launched a three-year program to study the impact of virtual therapy on students’ mental health and learning. Safe Schools is leading the study in partnership with five NH school districts — Lebanon, Claremont, Newport, Kearsarge, and Hopkinton.
Cartwheel (Cambridge, MA) is providing the online platform and licensed therapists. Cartwheel is a national leader in virtual mental health counseling for students in grades 6–12 (www.cartwheel.org). Access to Cartwheel’s service is funded by Safe Schools and at no cost to the school districts.
This study is the first of its kind in the country. It will provide valuable data and lessons and a playbook for other districts and states. Our vision is that every student has free access to the mental health and emotional support they need when they need it.
On Our Minds
A Pioneering Pilot Study