Schools, lawmakers demand change following NJ.com report on mental health crisis – NJ.com

In a span of 16 months, Amy Hassa watched her school district tragically lose three children to suicide. An eighth grader. A sixth grader. And a fifth grader.

Every morning, she woke up and saw her community hurting, said Hassa, now school board member in Hamilton, Atlantic County.

“We can do more,” Hassa said Tuesday as she called for statewide changes to the school system. “It’s not a matter of a district of 8,000 losing one student. It’s a matter of Susie’s classmate seeing an empty desk. It’s a ripple effect.”

Hassa echoed state lawmakers and other school officials Tuesday demanding a sweeping effort to combat a mental health crisis that’s left students battling depression and anxiety desperate for help. Their call to action followed an NJ Advance Media report published Tuesday on the state’s rising teen suicide rate.

“The tragic loss of life documented in this story is a heartbreaking example of a silent crisis that is taking the lives of an increasing number of young people,” said Sen. Joe Cryan, D-Union. “We have to believe that these are preventable deaths.”

New Jersey, like other states, has too few certified school nurses and counselors as well as an stunning shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, the report found. In 2017, there were 100 documented suicides among New Jersey’s 15- to 24-year-olds, the highest number and rate since the 1990s, according to federal data. Meanwhile, private treatment for mental health remains inaccessible and unaffordable for many families.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, chair of the Senate Education Committee. “Every lawmaker knows of a story like this in their district.”

Ruiz and other lawmakers plan to tackle the issue quickly, they said. She wants to hear from mental health experts and consider how to better support students while they are in school, such as an existing proposal for depression screening for all students in grades seven through 12.

Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, recently proposed a law requiring every school to have have a dedicated mental health counselor and will a push for it be considered despite the high cost, he said.

“We have a crisis out there,” said Codey, a former governor. “We are trying and it’s going to have to have a hell of a lot of support.”

Legislation to address the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists may also be considered.

After reading the NJ Advance Media report, state Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, said a loan forgiveness program for child psychiatrists who work in school settings is a “no brainer.”

Gov. Phil Murphy also committed to address the mental health crisis among teens, adding to the work his administration has already done on mental health for the general population.

“No one should feel that they are suffering alone,” Murphy said in statement.

On Tuesday evening, school officials called for change at an event at Highland Park High School hosted by the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The association released a report Tuesday on the pressing need for more mental health services in schools.

It found that about half of students ages 8 to 15 with diagnosed mental illness do not receive services nationwide and about 15 percent of teenagers report some form of self injury.

The association made 71 recommendations for schools, including bolstering social emotional learning programs, conducting climate surveys, using therapy dogs and teaching more about mental health in the classroom.

It was adamant that schools alone cannot fight the mental health crisis and they must partner with local officials and community organizations.

“It’s time to turn words into actions” said Vincent DeLucia, the association’s educator in residence. “We ask you to act.”

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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