About DMV Students for Mental Health Reform DMV Students for Mental Health Reform is a coalition of student advocates, clubs, and schools dedicated to improving students’ mental health in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. The student-led group has a three-part mission:
- Understand students, school staff, and best practices from other communities.
- Connect student leaders in the DMV area.
- Advocate for changes that address the needs of high school students.
With the current surge in mental health needs and rise in mental health advocacy among young people, the group brings together student groups and individual advocates across high schools to create a collective voice to demand change from schools, counties, and states. Through rallies, letters, and petitions, DMV Students for Mental Health Reform is leading the way in creating better and healthier schools for students. Their current advocacy priorities include instituting excused absences for mental health days, reallocating funds towards increased student support staff – such as school psychologists and social workers—and creating more uniform and comprehensive school-based mental health education. In addition to their broader priorities, some are also developing peer support programs. These programs aim to meet student needs in the short-term and create more robust resources for young people looking for support, regardless of whether they are receiving formal mental health services. To learn more about DMV Students for Mental Health Reform and how they got started, , download the full report. |
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