Mental health care providers are Rochester Regional Health are sounding a warning about the state of kids' mental health in our schools.

In just the past three weeks, Genesee Mental Health's satellite offices have received 185 calls for referrals for kids struggling in schools right now. That's 185 kids who need help - with only 14 therapists.

Bill Pearson, the program manager, says while schools are primarily focused on education right now, they need to focus more on students' social and emotional wellbeing.

"Our brain, it works either in an in-school, learning mode or surviving mode. Our kids and everybody are in a survival mode right now and it's impossible to be able to learn and be able to function when you are on high alert all the time," Pearson said.

He points to the hyper-political and divisiveness culture trickling down onto our kids.

From masks to vaccines to toxic Internet fights, Pearson's advice to parents is to show kids how to deal with adversity in a calm and civil way.

That way, kids are better equipped to handle issues when they are in school.