Rep. David Trone Hosts Webinar on the Impacts of the Pandemic on Student Mental Health
Rep. David Trone Hosts Webinar on the Impacts of the Pandemic on Student Mental Health
Watch the full webinar here.
WASHINGTON – In light of the record number of students reporting mental health challenges across the country, the office of U.S. Congressman David Trone (MD-06) hosted a webinar on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted student mental health. Parents and students had the opportunity to hear from Cheryl Bost, the President of the Maryland State Education Association; Kyson Taylor, the co-chair of the Montgomery County Workgroup Student Wellbeing Action Group (SWAG); Dr. Afie Mirshah-Nayar, the Principal of Paint Branch High School; and Anna Maier, a Research Analyst and Policy Advisor at the Learning Policy Center.
During the webinar, the group discussed the alarming rise in poor mental health among youth. Mental health experts have consistently expressed concerns about the pandemic, which has resulted in long-term isolation from peers and even the loss of a loved one. According to Mental Health America, young people are struggling the most with managing their mental health. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, young people ages 11-17 have been more likely than any other age group to experience moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“The mental health of our students and educators has always been a growing problem in this country, and unfortunately the pandemic has only made matters worse,” said Congressman David Trone. “Today’s webinar sheds light on some of the biggest issues impacting our teachers and students including food insecurity, lack of broadband, and addiction — all of which negatively impact a person’s mental health. I won’t ever stop fighting to ensure that mental health resources are available to all of our students and teachers.”
Last month, Congressman Trone introduced the Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021, legislation that would fund pilot programs in primary and secondary schools to fully fund mental and behavioral health prevention and intervention programs aimed at mitigating mental health issues among students. Trone also helped secure $1.95 billion in funding for Maryland schools through the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed and President Biden signed into law in March.
A replay of the webinar can be found here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees in the 117th Congress and previously served on the Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
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