The majority of public school teachers in 海角换妻 said they are not equipped to handle the worsening mental health needs of their students.
That鈥檚 according to an from the 海角换妻 Education Association (CEA) and WFSB.
Across the state, educators are reporting an increase in concern around depression and suicidal ideation, said Kate Dias, president of the CEA.
According to Dias, 89% of teachers surveyed "spoke to the concern about increased stress and anxiety鈥� and 82% are concerned with 鈥渋ncreased aggression and dysregulated behaviors鈥� from students.
Some of those students are brought by ambulance or private transportation to one of 海角换妻's four urgent care crisis centers for children, including at the Village for Families & Children in Hartford.
鈥淎 lot of kids are feeling quite isolated, and suicides and thoughts about suicide [are] increasing,鈥� said Dr. Laine Taylor, medical director at the Village. 鈥淲e're talking as young as 11 years old on up through 18.鈥�
The problem is compounded by a low student to social worker ratio in several districts, including Killingly, Dias said. In that town, the Board of Education has heard long-standing demands from parents to ramp up access to mental health care.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e still struggling,鈥� Dias said. 鈥淭hey have one school psychologist for 2,423 students. That is not a great ratio. Their school social workers are at 445 per social worker. That's a lot of need.鈥�
鈥榃e're not trained as social workers鈥�
Across 海角换妻 schools, an aggregate of one counselor for every 324 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and one school psychologist for every 485 students in that age group.
鈥淒arien, where there's great wealth in the community, [has] two social workers, which puts their ratio at one social worker per 2,300 students,鈥� Dias said. 鈥淏olton has one social worker for their 699 students.鈥�
鈥淥ur teachers articulate this all the time, 鈥榃e love our students. We care deeply about them, but we're not trained as social workers,鈥欌�� Dias said.
More than 80% of teachers surveyed reported seeing behavioral changes in their students including: increased stress and anxiety, increased aggression or dysregulated behavior and more distractions.
Increased absenteeism was also a widely reported concern among teachers.
Additionally, 87% of the surveyed teachers said they are concerned about their safety and the safety of their students, and reported aggressive student behavior, including threats and harm directed at them.
As youth mental health concerns rise, parents feel the strain, too
An August from the U.S. Surgeon General said 33% of American parents reported high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults.
Severe or prolonged stress can have a harmful effect on the mental health of parents and caregivers, which in turn can affect the well-being of the children they raise.
鈥淧arents and caregivers today face tremendous pressures,鈥� said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy .
鈥淔rom familiar stressors such as worrying about their kids鈥� health and safety and financial concerns, to new challenges like navigating technology and social media, a youth mental health crisis, an epidemic of loneliness that has hit young people the hardest,鈥� Murthy said. 鈥淎s a father of two kids, I feel these pressures too.鈥�
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
海角换妻鈥檚 The Accountability Project contributed to this story.
