Mental health liaison program in Tennessee schools making impact after expansion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Some Tennessee students’ grades and attendance have improved after receiving services through a statewide program designed to address mental health issues in schools, according to officials connected with the program.
The School-Based Behavioral Health Liaison program has been established in Tennessee for years, but it only recently expanded to every county in the state. In addition, the program received an extra $8 million in Tennessee’s budget this year to create another 114 behavioral health liaison positions.
“We have seen an increase, not due to anything anybody’s done or not done, but an increase in actual kids struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, which is why we need more funds to serve that number that’s grown,” said Marie Williams, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
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An additional 24,000 students have had access to the behavioral health liaisons this year thanks to the new funding from the state.
Ahmaani Pittman, a school-based behavioral health liaison coordinator with the Mental Health Cooperative, told News 2 the program is key to ensuring children grow up to have a good quality of life as adults.
“I think it’s easier to build up a strong child than to repair a broken man, so I think it just makes sense to start as early as you can with those interventions,” Pittman said. “The more adverse childhood experiences a child has, the more likely they will have health issues in the future, the more likely that they’ll have a mental health issue in the future, the less likely that they will have a better quality of life, so one way we combat the effects of ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) is by providing that mental health support.”
Behavior health liaisons said the main mental health issues in schools this year have been anxiety, suicidal ideations, and self-harm. However, with the right treatment, many students have been discharged from the program after accomplishing their therapy goals. Pittman also noted an improvement in students’ performance.
“We’ve seen kids’ grades improve, their attendance improve, their relationships with adults improve. It’s very fulfilling and rewarding,” Pittman said.
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The ultimate goal is to expand the behavioral health liaison program to every school in Tennessee, which would cost around $120 million.
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