FOX 25 is taking a look at the rise of mental health issues in the classroom.
Two years now into the pandemic and stress levels couldn't be higher for students.
Now Edmond Public Schools is seeing a rise in the need for mental health services.
"We do see an increase in our mental health needs in our students," said Angela Grunewald, Edmond Public Schools Superintendent.
4% of Edmond Public Schools students, about 1,000 kids, are using mental health services in some form, from specialized programs to behavioral or developmental disability.
"We have increased our services with mental health we have added additional councilors we added an additional councilor to each high school, we've added five councilors to our middle school. Our counseling services revolve around just helping students just be successful in school and identifying those mental health needs," said Grunewald.
The district is also increasing the amount paid to Edmond Family Counseling from $65,000 to $85,000 for the remainder of the school year due to an increase in student mental health needs.
"Sometimes when students are on an individual education plan or IEP the services that they need can be occupational therapy, they could be physical therapy or I could be counseling and these service with Edmond Family Counseling is for the counseling aspect," said Grunewald.
And now two years dealing with the pandemic have only made things worse.
"We do see higher and anxiety in our students it varies, some students cope very well and you wouldn't know if anything had changed and other students have really internalized that and we see t come out in different places and our teachers are amazing really making those connections with our students the first thing that students need is a connection with an adult," said Grunewald.
The money for the increase in funds to Edmond Family Counseling will be paid out of the American Rescue Plan.
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