- Washoe County School District
- Communications Department
- News Release
Office of Communications and Community Engagement
Page Navigation
WCSD Observes National Mental Health Month
WCSD Observes National Mental Health Month
2021 theme “You Are Not Alone” acknowledges mental health challenges of pandemic
Reno, NV. (May 19, 2021) – The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is observing National Mental Health Month, organized each year to raise awareness about mental health, fight stigmas, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. This year’s theme —“You Are Not Alone”— serves as a strong reminder about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Increasing feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression have taken a toll on people of all ages across the world due to lockdowns and social distancing associated with the pandemic.
“We recognize that our students, families, and staff members had to adapt quickly to many changes this year, just as people around the world did,” said WCSD Superintendent Dr. Kristen McNeill. “Early in the pandemic—beginning last spring—we knew in-person learning would be crucial to providing resources for our students and keeping vital connections in place to provide educational, nutritional, and mental health supports. From the beginning of classes in August, our school-based mental health teams have worked tirelessly with all students and staff members – and especially those who are experiencing feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and isolation due to the pandemic. I applaud the tremendous work of our mental health professionals whose efforts have helped all of us navigate this year and look forward to a time of healing for our schools and our community.”
“Our counselors, social workers, and school psychologists bring so much compassion and care to their work,” said Katherine Loudon, counseling coordinator for WCSD. “They assisted and supported students and staff in adjusting to new ways of learning and living during the pandemic. Our District mental health professionals knew that confronting anxiety and feelings of isolation was key to maintaining mental health, and I’m so proud of everything they accomplished. We will continue to build on their work going forward.”
WCSD’s Safe and Health Schools Commission recently worked with District staff to host a Virtual Safety Forum for the community, where topics such as school safety, suicide prevention, COVID and distance learning, and human trafficking were discussed. The link to various breakout sessions is available here: https://www.washoeschools.net/safetyforum
Our schools are vital to the community at large and supporting the mental wellness of students and staff helps to strengthen the community as a whole. WCSD works in partnership with a variety of state and local government agencies, the University of Nevada, Reno, and non-profit agencies including Join Together Northern Nevada, Quest, Children’s Cabinet, Nevada State Office of Suicide Prevention, and Washoe County Children’s Mental Health Consortium.
For more information and resources, visit:
https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/home
https://study.com/resources/teen-mental-health-resources
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-depressed-teenager/
https://childmind.org/guide/anxiety-basics/
https://hopefulminds.org/ https://www.pacer.org/
https://everfi.com/courses/k-12/wellness-mental-health-education/