Puyallup students and families are relying heavily on mental health services, data shows
The need for mental health resources in schools during the pandemic has not subsided and recent data from the Puyallup School District shows that.
The district has been working with Hazel Health since October to provide students and families with mental and physical health services online at no cost. Students have up to six visits free before their insurance is billed, The News Tribune reported.
As of Nov. 5, school counselors had made 91 referrals to Hazel Health and 251 referrals to the district’s behavioral health partners. School social workers in the district are also working with 24 students and their families. The district began collecting data in early October.
Some of the most common reasons for referrals include anxiety, stress management, depression and interpersonal relationships, Michele Bledsoe, director of equity and social emotional wellness, said during a Nov. 15 school board meeting.
“The numbers of referrals are increasing daily,” Bledsoe said during the school board meeting. “With this data representing only about four weeks of referrals, we can see the importance of having these behavioral health partnerships available to our students.”
Students and families who have been using Hazel Health have expressed positive feedback so far, Bledsoe said. One high school student experienced fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as fewer panic attacks after working with a therapist, she said.
Hazel Health is a virtual telehealth service that offers short-term therapy visits, medical treatment and referrals to local care providers. The district also works with Comprehensive Life Resources, Heidi’s Promise, Consejo, Multicare Woodcreek, Good Sam Behavioral Health, Hope Sparks, and Kids Mental Health Pierce County.
Families can inquire about Hazel Health services by calling at 253-215-8700 or contacting their child’s school counselor.
During the school board meeting, Superintendent John Polm also announced that the district is postponing the decision to modify a district policy concerning its transportation services, which could have cut certain bus routes.
If modified, it would increase the walking distance requirement for junior high and high school students to 1.75 miles. Increasing the walking distance is one of the solutions the district proposed to address the bus driver shortage districts across the country are facing, The News Tribune reported.
“We’re hopeful that continued efforts to hire and train drivers will help avoid additional route suspensions in the future,” Polm said.
The school board also approved a capital levy as well as the renewal of an educational programs and operations levy. Both levies will be on the ballot for next year’s special election, which is Feb. 8, 2022.
