The PennZone

Allentown, PA ~ Today, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania met with Parkland High School students in Lehigh County to discuss their mental health challenges and share his budget's proposed investments to ensure that all Pennsylvania students have access to mental health resources in schools.

The Governor's proposal includes $500 million over the next five years so that schools can fund mental health counselors and services on site, prioritizing students' mental health in addition to their physical health, and $20 million in 2023-24 – growing to $60 million annually by 2027-28 – to restore mental health funding to Pennsylvania counties, who provide critical community-based mental health services for residents.

At the roundtable, Governor Shapiro heard from Parkland students, counselors, teachers, and administrators about their experiences and challenges firsthand and discussed the mental health resources needed in Pennsylvania classrooms. State Representative Michael Schlossberg expressed his appreciation for the Governor's commitment to reducing mental illness. "Governor Shapiro has called for a half-billion-dollar investment in mental health in our schools over the next five years. This money will be used to give students better access to mental health supports and train more mental health professionals," said Schlossberg.

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Parkland High School Principal Nathan Davidson noted that there are not enough therapists or psychiatrists available for students who need them. He also highlighted the importance of community support for youth mental health. "We need to be vigilant as a community to monitor youth mental health," said Davidson. "We, as a community, need to ask questions and show care and concern for each other."

Parkland High School student Reva Gandhi expressed her gratitude for the proposed investment of half a billion dollars in resources in schools over the next 5 years. "It is heartening to see the potential that this proposed plan holds for our students," said Gandhi.

In 2021, 18 percent of students surveyed in Lehigh County reported engaging in self-harm and 40 percent of students surveyed felt depressed or sad most days. In response, Governor Shapiro directed Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphries to make sure that insurers cover mental health benefits fairly so that all Pennsylvanians can receive the support they need.

Governor Shapiro is committed to addressing Pennsylvania's growing mental health crisis by investing more money into schools and communities across the Commonwealth so that all students have access to necessary resources.

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