By Allana J. Barefield
Staff Writer
This school year, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) is focusing on a number of issues and they are making mental health services a priority. This program was launched in July and officials say they understand the importance of serving the needs of students who experience mental, behavioral, or physical health problems and the demand will be much higher for their services. In preparation, DISD has added 50 clinicians, made up of social workers, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, to help students who are dealing with the pandemic and adjusting back to school.
On top of the services, teachers have implemented a sharing circle in the morning for the students to open up about what is going on in their world. “We want people to understand that they are not alone,” said Director of Mental Health Services, Dianna Smoot, in a release. “This is a difficult time for so many, and we encourage anyone struggling with challenges such as depression and anxiety to reach out to us for support.
