Chicago Public Schools launches mental health and suicide prevention campaign: ‘COVID has only presented an additional challenge’
Chicago TribuneMay 10, 2022
CPS said staff members, including school counselors, will discuss the “Please Stay” campaign, self-care habits and mental health resources and screen a three-minute “Please Stay” video in classes. The district said it shared campaign materials — including a teacher/counselor’s guide, pledge cards and digital resources — with schools last week as May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
CPS said 38% of its students have reported feeling depressed and 17% have seriously considered suicide, according to data from the
“COVID has only presented an additional challenge,”
CPS said it is the first school district to implement the initiative, developed by Lady Gaga’s
Beyond this campaign, the district said it is expanding its behavioral health team model, developed and implemented with Lurie Children’s Hospital, from more than 200 schools to all of its 500-plus district-run schools for the coming school year. CPS said its goal is to have one of these teams, which are tasked with identifying students with behavioral health needs and connecting them with interventions, in every CPS school by the 2023-24 school year.
CPS said its budget for the coming school year allows for 623 social workers and 117 counselors. The contract the district forged with the
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