As the pandemic continues on, a local education official says that he’s been noticing more students struggling with mental health.
Butler Area School Superintendent Dr. Brian White says he’s seen a rise in behavioral issues inside schools this year.
With younger students, he says time away from the classroom has impacted their social interactions.
“In our younger grades we have a lot of students who spent a year on cyber education, sometimes voluntary, sometimes involuntary. And they don’t know necessarily always know how to interact with other children and adults,” White said. “And we have to work very hard to re-instill those skills on how to go to school.”
Meanwhile, at the high school level, White says there are more students struggling with mental health.
“We have an in-school therapy provided by Glade Run in partnership with them, and we’ve had to increase the number of therapists in our schools this year because of the number of students displaying anxiety and depression,” White said.
White says it’s important for those around students to be positive influences.
“We find ourselves in a place that we have really be mindful to be positive. That children’s futures are going to be bright and there’s a lot of opportunities in Butler County and our country, and that there’s a lot of great things going on.”
White urges parents to monitor their kids behavior and mental health, and to reach out for help if they feel it’s necessary.