BY SEN. JACKY ROSEN (D-NEV.), OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL
One of the most damaging impacts of the #pandemic is the toll it has taken on our nation’s #students — many of whom are struggling with feelings of #grief, #anxiety, #isolation, and #depression brought on by the enormous difficulties of this #pandemic. #COVID-19 has only exacerbated the numerous challenges that our #students have faced over the past few years.
Our #kids have been facing unprecedented stresses. From the loss of loved ones and caregivers, to economic uncertainty, to #socialisolation, this added #stress has put a crushing weight on the shoulders of our #students — and we are seeing the heartbreaking results before our very eyes.
Nationally, nearly two out of every three young people have expressed feeling down or depressed during the #pandemic. In 2020, in Nevada’s Clark County #School District alone #students died by #suicide at a rate twice that of the year prior. These are not just statistics; these are 20 #children — from fourth grade up through #highschool — who will never get to live out their futures, and families and communities devastated with unimaginable pain and grief.
Although we’ve made important strides to overcome many aspects of the #pandemic by getting #parents back to work and getting our #kids safely back in classrooms, too many of our #students are still suffering. We must take action to address the #mentalhealthchallenges that our #children face and drive down this surge of #student #anxiety, #depression, and suicides.
I’m not alone in recognizing the serious and urgent nature of this situation. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of #Child and #Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association have declared a national emergency in #child and #adolescent #mentalhealth. Additionally, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has released an advisory focused on supporting #youth #mentalhealth, in which he writes: “It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place.”
Arguably, one of the greatest challenges #schools now face is the sheer number of #students in our #schools who are in need of #mentalhealthservices. #Schools already struggled to provide sufficient counseling and resources to those #students, and the #pandemic has only exacerbated this shortage. Courageous #teachers and #counselors are doing their best to address children’s #mentalhealth needs in the face of underfunding and understaffing. We must provide #schools with additional resources, which we can do through a change in federal policy.
#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
The #SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration (#SAMHSA) is a federal agency that has been supporting invaluable, lifesaving #mentalhealth programs for decades. However, while direct funding assistance from #SAMHSA is currently available for colleges and universities, the agency has never been allowed to provide these resources directly to K-12 #school districts.
That’s why I’m working to pass the #Youth #MentalHealthandSuicidePrevention Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I wrote and introduced with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), would finally authorize SAMHSA to fund comprehensive, equitable, and evidence-based resources and programs in K-12 #schools to promote #student #mentalhealth, support #students in crisis, and help prevent #student suicides. This bill would support a wide range of #mentalhealth evaluation, planning, programming, and #suicideprevention strategies in our #schools, including through the use of training programs for #students and #school staff to respond effectively to #mentalhealthchallenges, and telehealth to conduct #suiciderisk and #mentalhealth screenings.
During a recent Senate hearing, I asked #mentalhealthexperts whether making this change would be an effective solution toward addressing the #mentalhealthcrisis, and the response was resoundingly positive. This legislation has also garnered the support of the #AmericanPsychologicalAssociation, the #AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention, the #TrevorProject, and many other #student and #mentalhealth advocacy organizations — including #school districts across my state of Nevada.
Amid this #student #mentalhealthcrisis, this bipartisan bill with growing support would be a major step in the right direction for our #kids. I won’t stop fighting until we take action.
Jacky Rosen is a Democratic Senator from Nevada and a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions — which oversees health and education issues.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
