Education Now Supporting Mental Health in Rural and Indigenous Communities How caregivers and educators can support the mental well-being of rural and indigenous youth Posted February 8, 2023 By News editor Counseling and Mental Health Disruption and Crises Inequality and Education Gaps Medical leaders have declared the state of youth mental health a national emergency. In rural and Indigenous communities, young people face unique mental health risks and barriers to care. Now, experts working to support children and adolescents living in rural regions join us to share experiences and best practices in providing services and safeguarding mental health.Guests:Blake Berryhill, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies; Director, Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Program, University of AlabamaLaVonne Fox, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Turtle Mountain Community College, North DakotaRobert Roark, Project Director, Full-Service Community School (FSCS) Leslie, Partners for Rural Impact, Kentucky; former principal, Leslie County High School, KentuckyHost:Richard Weissbourd, Senior Lecturer on Education and Director, Making Caring Common, Harvard Graduate School of EducationKey takeaways:Adolescents in rural and Indigenous communities can face significant access, stigma and cultural obstacles to mental health services — schools can help.Loss of cultural identity and historical and generational trauma can contribute to current mental health challenges. Educators can be trained to identify and respond to red flags and intervene with creative tactics. Involve families and students.Resources:Strengthening Resilience: Promoting Positive School Mental Health Among Indigenous Youth National Center for Rural School Mental Health (Rural SMH)Making Caring Common's Teen Mental Health PrimerRural ResilienceImplementing Full-Service Community Schools in a Rural Setting Education Now A webinar and newsletter series to shape new approaches to challenges in education Explore All Articles Related Articles Education Now Tackling Unhealed Trauma in Communities and Schools An exploration of healing-centered engagement, a social-emotional learning approach that promotes self-esteem and offers a holistic view of recovery for young people of color managing trauma while also creating positive conditions for academic achievement. Education Now Hope and Resilience in Childhood A discussion of concrete ways to support children and adults in developing their capacities to weather the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Education Now Keeping Our Schools Healthy Experts in education and public health came together to discuss ways districts, schools, and families can put health first when navigating this complex school year.