ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Both state and Buncombe County officials say there is one common denominator when it comes to a student’s mental health.
Officials agree that common denominator is the role of parents, who play the most crucial part when it comes to the emotional wellbeing of their child.
“It starts at home,” Mountain Child Advocacy Center Executive Director Carla Jones told News 13. “It’s carried in through the schools. If more help is needed, they can come to the Mountain Child Advocacy Center or other resources in our community that can help. I would say the most important piece is the parents’ job.
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“It is to understand that (parents) need to take that beat, and do, what we call, reflectively listen. You have to say “Oh, I hear what you’re saying (to your child.)”
Experts like Jones say that the best thing to do is give your students a voice as much as possible after they come home from a long day at school.
“As a parent, you may not get it right every time,” Jones said. “If you’re there to support your child, connect with your child and remind them that they’re loved and cared for and practice the same routines. That’s going to help those children in ways that can start at home.”
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What may not seem like an issue to an adult can be something that weighs on the mind of a K-12 student. However, therapy and other counseling resources may still be necessary, and not all families can afford it.
“Something as simple as not knowing who your teacher is or not knowing anyone in your class can be a real stresser for children,” Jones said. “That’s why organizations like the Mountain Child Advocacy Center goes into schools and finds kids and staff in need.”
Jones said that’s why organizations in Buncombe County like the Mountain Child Advocacy Center take their programs into the schools.
“We have a prevention education program,” Jones told News13. “That’s where we go into the schools and teach them safety lessons. Through that, we get a lot of disclosures from children. We’ll track them and make sure they’re getting the help that they need throughout the school year.”
To learn more about Mountain Child Advocacy Center programs and resources for students in Buncombe County and beyond, go to the Center’s website.
Send your school-related tips or story ideas to crisisintheclassroom@wlos.com.
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