JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Canopy Children’s Solutions has recognized the escalating crisis in children’s mental health, citing a 30 percent increase in anxiety and depression among children over recent years. Additionally, alarming statistics reveal that one in three high school girls have contemplated suicide. Such data underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address these issues.
The organization’s 10th annual Children’s Mental Health Summit focused on the “ecology of a child,” emphasizing the importance of understanding beyond the most apparent factors.
“It’s designed to go deeper and understand that it’s all about understanding the child or the family,” explained Yolanda Wooten, LINK Statewide Coordinator for Canopy Children’s Solutions. “It’s about recognizing what is needed, paying attention to signs when a child is withdrawn, when they’re usually sociable, or when a child is unusually needy. What are those changes indicating?”
The summit occurred shortly after lawmakers conducted the first hearings focusing on the mental health of K-12 and college students. Canopy Children’s Solutions was asked about the significance of legislative efforts to improve connectivity to mental health resources for children.
“We often fall into the trap of working in silos,” said Chief Solutions Officer Shea Hutchins. “It’s crucial for policymakers to engage with the issues and figure out how we can help. Setting the stage for the private and public sectors to collaborate effectively is vital. We should not see each other as competitors because the ultimate goal is to support the needs of the child and their family.”
Canopy Children’s Solutions, among other groups, is already striving for such collaboration and wants to increase awareness of available resources, many of which are free.
“It’s essential that schools establish partnerships with entities like ours and others that bring expertise to support students in the right way for the right reasons,” noted Sean Brewer, Canopy’s Director of Education Solutions.
The legislative task force will continue meeting in the lead-up to next year’s session to develop recommendations aimed at addressing these pressing issues.
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