The West Virginia Department of Education is partnering with the Cook Center to offer free resources to families, educators, caregivers and others to support student mental health. ParentGuidance.org, a 24/7 online platform, assists those who care for children to address and elevate mental health wellness and self-care. 

Why is this important?

• In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency, noting that child and adolescent healthcare professionals are “caring for young people with soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families, and their communities.”

• More than 700,000 people in the West Virginia live in communities that do not have enough mental health professionals.

• Educators report increases in behavior challenges and classroom disruptions since the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted in-person instruction and impacted schools, communities and homes over the course of several years.